July 2024 Newsletter

Greetings!

Here’s a quick update on green happenings…

OUCC recommends 62% reduction in Duke rate case
Duke is Indiana’s largest climate polluter and their proposed rate hike doubles down on coal which means higher rates and more extreme weather! Duke wants a $492 million rate hike, but the OUCC says only $184.7 million is warranted based on the evidence and applicable law. That’s 62% less than Duke’s request!  See OUCC press release and comments submitted by CACCGI and more.

What’s next?

·  The 4th and final public hearing is on Aug. 8 in New Albany (near Louisville) and CAC is hosting a town hall on July 30 to help consumers understand what’s in the rate case. Please share with family and friends in the area. Read more.

·  Duke’s rebuttal testimony is due on Aug. 8, with an IURC evidentiary hearing scheduled to start on Aug. 29.

·  A final Commission order is expected in early 2025, and customer bills will begin increasing in Spring 2025.

Go solar to protect against rate increases
Join us Thurs, Aug. 22, 6 p.m. at the Carmel Library for a Solar Info Session.  Find out how to turn your sunny roof into energy savings and how to protect against future rate increases. You’ll learn about solar technology and the 30% tax credit.  You’ll also learn about Solar United Neighbor’s Ready, Set, Solar! program that provides expert support throughout the process of going solar. Please RSVP

Preparing for Extreme Weather
On Thurs, Aug. 1, 1 p.m. join the IU Environmental Resilience Institute for a webinar on preparing for extreme weather events in Indiana.  Indiana’s top climate scientist and ERI executive director Dr. Gabe Filippelli and the Indiana Resilience Funding Hub team will discuss why extreme weather will continue to be an issue in Indiana and how incorporating this information into planning can help.  Learn more and RSVP

WASTED – Reduce your food waste
Did you know a third of all food grown in the US— about 78 million tons—is wasted? It ends up in landfills, incinerators, or rotting in fields, contributing to hunger and climate change. Food waste causes over half of America’s landfill methane emissions.  Join us Thurs, Sept. 19, 6 p.m. at the Carmel Library to learn simple ways to reduce your food waste, including composting at home and compost collection service. Read more and  RSVP.

Kudos to Ella & Ashlyn for their climate leadership
Carmel High School seniors, Ella Lipnik and Ashlyn Walker have done more than most adults to advocate for climate! As co-leader of the statewide student-led Confront the Climate Crisis, Ashlyn worked with state lawmakers to craft climate legislation in Indiana. Ella joined CGI’s Promise Project to advocate for Carmel’s climate action plan, which was adopted in August 2022.  Today, Ashlyn is one of two youth appointees to Carmel’s Climate Action Advisory Committee. We are so grateful for their leadership! If you know a young person that wants to make big changes through civic engagement, please reach out!  Read more.

Kids are worried…
59% kids are worried about climate change…what can you do as parents?

1. Listen to your kids concerns
2. Find climate solutions that you can work on at home, at school, in the community.
3. We need to reinvent systems – help your kids to understand how these systems need to change and empower them to advocate for these changes.
4. Engage the community to work together on solutions to reduce carbon pollution.
5. To overcome political barriers in climate solutions, look for common values (let’s protect our children) and co-benefits (solar also reduces energy costs).
We have lots of ideas for you – please reach out!
Learn more at CBSNews and Project Drawdown.

Easy Ways to Go Green
Make sustainability your top priority. Everything we do impacts our earth in some way. Change habits that will improve our environment. We can do this together!  Here’s how to calculate your household carbon footprint and some easy ways to go green.

JOIN US
100% of your membership supports CGI’s many free programs. Become a member today 🙂   

Sincerely,
Leslie Webb
President
Carmel Green Initiative
www.CarmelGreen.org