Committees

The steering committee oversees the direction, advocacy initiatives, and continued expansion of the coalition. Members also organize the annual strategic planning retreat in January. Membership is currently composed of chairs of our committees, representatives from organizational members, former elected officials, and other volunteers with environmental leadership skills. It meets monthly on the second Tuesday from 12:00 – 1:00 pm.

The committee also educates the public about the SEAP and its dashboard tool. While we support and promote the SEAP and work closely with City staff, we also challenge them at times to be bold in their approach to meet their carbon reduction goals, given the urgency of the climate crisis. The City has recently updated the SEAP with expanded climate and energy goals. Members of this committee engaged in the update process as SEAP Ambassadors. The new SEAP+ was recently approved unanimously by the Charlotte City Council and highlights the addition of a climate risk assessment, creating a stronger link between energy transitions and climate challenges. For more information, see the updated SEAP+ webpage.

Formerly known as the Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP) Accountability Committee, this committee was formed after the SEAP was approved by Charlotte City Council in 2018. Members have continued to be engaged with implementation of the SEAP over the years by participating in energy, transportation, workforce development, and buildings groups; having City sustainability staff report updates at our meetings; and advocating for additional funding for SEAP at City budget hearings.

Additionally, the committee will also prioritize monitoring the implementation of Mecklenburg County’s Environmental Leadership Policy and Action Plan, which was approved in March 2021. Members will be designated to attend, as able, the County’s Environmental Stewardship Committee monthly meetings and report back on issues relevant to CMCL priorities.

CMCL has worked on a variety of transportation issues over the past six years, following the lead and guidance of Sustain Charlotte. Issues included submitting comments to the City about the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), meeting with and submitting comments to Charlotte Center City Partners about their All in 2040 Vision Plan for Uptown, and weighing in on plans for a new transit center and the one-cent sales tax for transit.

In 2025, the committee will continue to advocate for the transit tax and also provide support to Transforming Nations Ford, a community development nonprofit dedicated to serving and empowering the residents of the Nations Ford/Arrowood Corridor. With the recent City Council approval of the expansion of I-77 South from six to ten lanes, the negative impacts on this community will be significant. CMCL will work closely with Transforming Nations Ford and other partners to create a plan to minimize those impacts and provide remarks during the public comment period.

Members of this committee have worked closely with CleanAIRE NC staff to advocate that Duke Energy increase the amount of clean, renewable energy and battery storage in the NC Carbon Plan and transition our state away from fossil fuels. The committee speaks at public hearings, submits written comments to the NC Utilities Commission, researches carbon plan proposals, and submits op-eds. Learn more about the NC Carbon Plan at CleanAIRE NC’s website.

While there will be some work on the NC Carbon Plan this year, it won’t be as intensive as in 2024. Therefore, volunteers this year will have an opportunity to help promote the Charlotte Mecklenburg Solarize Program, which launches next week and promotes solar energy to individuals and businesses. We especially will assist with outreach to low- and moderate-income residents. The program is taking applications now on their website. Solarize campaigns are proven to increase solar installations by reducing barriers and costs through education and group purchasing power. The program runs now through the end of October.

CMCL is advocating for clean energy, energy efficiency, electric school buses, and other conservation efforts for Charlotte Mecklenburg School (CMS), charter schools, and private schools in our community. We have made initial contacts with some school board members and CMS staff department heads. Given the multiple problems that our schools have faced, including educational challenges, teacher and staff turnover, funding shortages, and new school board members, it has been very challenging to direct attention to the importance of clean energy to protect our environment and the long-term potential for financial savings with solar energy. We need your help!

This committee is tasked with expanding community awareness about CMCL through events, social media, newsletters, and other strategies aimed at building our coalition. We need volunteers who have a variety of skill sets such as writing, editing, marketing, graphic design, website work, event planning, and social media strategy. This committee also communicates with our organizational members to promote their events and get them involved in overall coalition work.