People Power: Moving Forward With Our Energy and Climate Work
Hi all you Fierce Fossil Fuel Fighters! When it comes to pipelines in our state, the fight to keep our communities and our Water safe is far from over. Don't lose hope in the strength our coalition has built. We have power. Although FERC authorized the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, we must still show up to hold Transco-Williams accountable, as we know our federal and state governments will not.
What’s Next With the SSEP?
The NC Department of Environmental Quality has granted the SSEP the essential water permit it needs to move forward in the approval process. We are expecting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve the entire SSEP project soon. There is a link to a press release from the NoSSEP Coalition through the Sierra Club here.
Haw River Assembly’s concerns on the open-cut, dry ditch methods Transco-Williams plans to use during the construction of the SSEP still stand. These methods will be used for the vast majority of the route, including the buffer areas of Jordan Lake and Randleman Lake. This causes great concern for sedimentation pollution and additional impact on local ecosystems.
WE NEED YOU! To begin, we need volunteers to join our SSEP-Watch!
Please check out this video showcasing community members who stepped up to "Guard Our Waters" in Virginia when they faced pipeline construction in their backyards: https://vimeo.com/205413168
Interested in taking part in these efforts? Are you a landowner along the Right-of-Way (ROW) or near the route who can allow members of our SSEP-Watch to go on your property to take photos and samples? Please fill out this form to demonstrate your interest: https://forms.gle/s1Q36vp5MyT3xCmd7
Need more info on how to get involved? Need a way to voice your frustration and disappointment? Another essential area of our continued fight is to put pressure on NC state representatives and local elected officials. This focus will be great for those who are further away from the ROW/can't commit to on-the-ground monitoring. Email me at aidan@hawriver.org, and I can provide more information, help you with a letter to the editor, and/or send comments to local elected officials.
I greatly admire the strength and resilience of our community in the face of all these pressures. Thank you for being a part of the fight up to now.
Climate Resiliency Curriculum
How do we equip individuals with the tools, knowledge, and resources to build resilient communities in the face of climate change?
The Haw River Assembly is excited to offer a hands-on training program designed to build climate resilience through education, research, and action. Research and education must be paired with action and advocacy. By the end of our Climate Resiliency Curriculum, students will be prepared to engage directly in their community on a local issues.
This two-to-three-day lesson plan supports students in:
1. Determining and clearly articulating their climate advocacy goals and concerns
2. Learning how to research climate change effectively and identify credible resources
3. Taking direct action by engaging with local systems of power to achieve actionable change
Do you know a student in high school or college feeling overwhelmed or powerless in the face of the climate crisis? Are you a teacher/professor with students curious about how to make an effective change in our community? Email aidan@hawriver.org to learn more and register.
Upcoming Solidarity Event! Learn about Organizing Victories Across our State!
I want to share an exciting event to look forward to this spring! Mark your calendar for Communities Over Corporate Profit: How We Win, an event focused on:
sharing the collective successes of our movements in the past year,
celebrating the communities who are building power in NC,
equipping people to replicate ongoing initiatives in their own communities!
Here’s what you need to know
When: March 8 2026, 12-3pm
Where Durham Central Park Pavilion, 501 Foster Street , Durham, NC 27701
What: music, art with Paperhand Puppet Project, participatory group activities, keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and so much more! Family friendly / kid friendly art welcomed and encouraged!
Background: This event is part two of the collaborative Communities Over Corporate Profit campaign. Last October, over 20 NC organizations and advocacy groups came together to throw an event highlighting the importance of prioritizing our communities over corporate greed. The event, which also generated signatures for a list of demands to Governor Stein, was a success! Folks at the event were eager for more opportunities to engage on the issues we raised of low wages, high energy bills, AI data centers, and heat causing dangerous working conditions. On Sunday March 8th, join us, learn and get inspired, then go forth in your community and mobilize!
No registration required. Detailed breakdown of day-of timing and speaker schedule to be announced soon.
Interested in Tabling?
Do you or an organization/group you’re a part of want to table? Email aidan@7directionsofservice.com to learn more about tabling at Communities Over Corporate Profits: How We Win!
We are facing challenging times as a country. Together, in our corner of the world, we will fight to protect our Haw River and our Haw River community by standing in solidarity efforts for justice for the water and justice for the people. As always, this is Aidan wishing community care, light, and love.
Take care of yourselves and each other,
~ Aidan Loretz (they/them, she/her)