Advisory: Memphis Councilwoman Patrice Robinson to Host Energy Justice Town Hall
Please join Councilwoman Patrice J. Robinson (District 3) to learn more about the issue of energy justice in Memphis and Shelby County this Thursday, January 12th, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. After a brief presentation from Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital CHAMP program and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a panel of community leaders will be present to hear from you and answer your questions about the issue and the City Council’s resolution addressing the subject.
In October of 2016, Councilwoman Robinson hosted a representative from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, which authored a study highlighting the high energy burden faced by Memphians, particularly our most disadvantaged. Citizens with a high energy burden pay a disproportionate amount of their incomes each month on their utility bills, as high as 25 percent, due to poorly weatherized housing.
In December of 2016, Councilwoman Robinson introduced a resolution urging MLGW to expand the impact of its Project Care weatherization program through a change in its Share the Pennies bill round-up program such that all citizens would be automatically enrolled in the program unless they choose not to participate. On January 3rd, the resolution unanimously passed the Council’s MLGW Committee on the way to a final vote on January 17th at 3:30 pm.
The town hall on Thursday will focus on the issue of energy burden and energy justice in our community and the health impacts of these housing issues. The panel—moderated by Angela Garrone of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and including Councilwoman Robinson, Susan Steppe of Le Bonheur, MLGW Manager of Customer Relations Clint Richardson, Linda Williams of MLGW’s Neighborhood Advisory Council, and Memphis Housing and Community Development Division Director Paul Young—will be on hand to answer audience questions.
MLGW will also be on hand distributing energy-efficiency kits to all attendees, and five lucky attendees will receive large kits as part of raffle drawings throughout the event.
Please contact Andrew Mathewes at [email protected] or 636-6793 if you have any questions.
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