Energy Justice Carolina: A Summer to Defeat VC Summer!
This summer, youth from across the Carolinas, and hopefully from all over the southeast, will be running listening projects in Jenkinsville, SC where South Carolina Electric & Gas currently operates a one reactor nuclear generating facility and has recently submitted permits to build two new reactors. Following the teachings of the Quakers, rocking SEN leaders will be knocking door-to-door asking for a little time with the folks directly impacted by the Virgil C Summer nuclear power station. Just a little time to listen, to be quiet, respectful, present, a little time to understand how the people living in Jenkinsville feel about the power station now and how they feel about the proposed expansion. If we're lucky, they'll be comfortable being honest with us; if we're genuine, we'll be comfortable hearing them, really hearing them.
In a town with a gas station, an itty bitty sandwhich shop and a handful of churches, the Monticello Resevoir is the community's greatest source of recreation and diversion: the kids use it to fight off the summer heat and their parents fish out of it to supplement dinner. They all drink the water from the lake and use it to water their gardens. I moved into Jenkinsville less than a week ago and already a couple of the elders in the community want to take care of me, watch out for me. The people of Jenkinsville are generous, trusting and beautiful and they deserve better than the treatment they're getting from SCE&G and this summer we have the opportunity to help them develop the tools to demand better!
If you're interested in getting involved, email (sara.m.tansey@gmail.com) or call (843.305.0490) Sara Tansey for more details (calling is better, no internet access in Jenkinsville :D). You can also get the most recent updates by joining our facebook group: Energy Justice Carolina. Our first training camp and listening project will start midday on Friday, June 20th through Sunday, June 22nd. Folks are welcome all throughout the summer though, for any amount of time they can dedicate to these projects! I've got an apartment with three bedrooms, a living room and two bathrooms with showers (and no air conditioning :D) that I'd love to share with anyone and everyone who's interested!
Learn More About South Carolina's Environment:
Air Quality
Global Warming
Energy Efficiency
Green Power
Nuclear!
Water Quality
SC Policies, Groups and Research
Where does your electricity come from in SC?
According to the Energy Information Administration, in 2004 it was: 52.3% nuclear, 39.7% coal, 4.8% other fossil fuels, 2.5% hydroelectric, and 1.9% other renewable (click for source Excel Spreadsheet )
SC Climate & Energy Policies
SC Energy Office
SC Incentives for Renewable Energy
SC Groups Working on Climate & Energy
South Carolina's Sustainable Universeities Initiative
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
Carolina Peace Resource Center
South Carolina Sierra Club
South Carolina Coastal Conservation League
Conservation Voters of SC
Other SC groups, a listing from SCIway.net
Reports & Other Resources
Going Green $aves Green , USC Housing Report and Study
Buy Green Power through Santee Cooper power supplier.
SC Energy
Resources Statistics
SC Nuclear Economy Power Point (by USC student Whit Ashley)
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