By Rachael Rader, Field Organizer for Climate Action NC
This week was all about showing up, speaking out, and standing together for our future.
On Wednesday evening, the Duke Energy Carbon Plan Rally brought our community to life outside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. Beginning at 5:30 PM and carrying us into the early evening, the rally created a space where people could gather, learn, and raise their voices together. As the sun set, we moved inside for the official hearing at 7 PM—bringing that same energy, urgency, and determination directly into the room where decisions are made.
The purpose of the rally was twofold: to educate and to inspire. We came together to shine a light on Duke Energy’s ongoing lack of accountability—from failing to meet previous carbon reduction commitments and resisting meaningful investments in renewable energy like solar and wind, all while continuing to pollute our air and water and raise rates for everyday people. But just as importantly, this moment was about gratitude. It was about honoring the activists, organizers, and community members who have been doing this work—often quietly, always persistently—for years.
The rally also became something deeper than we anticipated: a space for truth-telling and collective grief. Speakers shared not only facts and demands but also lived experiences—naming the real and ongoing harm of environmental injustice on their bodies, their families, and their communities. There was a shared recognition that behind every policy failure are people navigating asthma, contaminated water, rising costs, and the emotional toll of being unheard. In that space, grief was not a weakness—it was a form of testimony, a call for accountability, and a reminder of what is truly at stake.
After weeks of dedicated organizing, the event was a powerful success. There is something deeply moving about seeing a community come together with a shared purpose, and we are incredibly proud to stand alongside so many passionate advocates fighting for clean air, clean water, and affordable, clean energy across North Carolina.
We were honored to hear from an inspiring lineup of speakers who brought both expertise and heart to the stage, including our own field organizer- Rachael Rader, Newly elected District 106 Representative Rodney Sadler, Reverend Dr. Janet Garner-Mullins, Dr. David F. Keely, Professor Tina Katsanos, Reverend Amy Brooks-Paradise, and singer and Activist Ali Steele. Each voice added something unique—stories, expertise, faith, and urgency—reminding us why this work matters.
The rally and hearing brought together partners from across a wide coalition, including the West Side Blvd Coalition, The Climate Reality Project, GreenFaith, CleanAIRE NC, Clean Water for North Carolina, the NAACP, the Reimagining America Project, and Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders. In total, around 40 people attended the rally, and more than 20 speakers showed up to testify at the hearing, making it a powerful close to the final Carbon Plan hearing held across the state.
Adding to the moment, local media came out to cover the event, including climate reporter Zachary Turner with WFAE, which helped ensure our message reached beyond those in attendance.
And still—there is no rest for climate activists.
Even as this chapter closes, we are already looking ahead. On April 29th, we will return to push back against the next proposed rate hike from Duke Energy. Organizing is already underway, in partnership with groups like the NC Conservation Network, CleanAIRE NC, the United Ratepayers Campaign, and the Sierra Club.