Residents Share Concerns Re: Climate & Rising Energy Costs

Ceatano with local moms at the Southwood Back-to-School Fair

As summer break ends and school begins, last Wednesday the Charlottesville Climate Collaborative (C3) attended the 2019 Southwood Community Back-to-School Festival. Families are getting ready to send their children back to school to prepare them for the future; so it was a great opportunity to talk about climate change and connect for the first time with this radiant community!

During our few hours there, we felt heartened and uplifted by the great attendance and predisposition to engage of Southwood’s residents and neighbors. To our thrilled surprise, we discover that children and their moms were enthusiastic to express their support of climate action!

However, we were grieved to find out that this modest community might have one of the highest residential electricity bills in the entire region.

Once again, the topics of affordable housing and climate/energy equity seem to be of highest importance. As our friends in Southwood said: Yes, we must act to combat climate change. At the same time, we must be mindful of securing immediate and effective energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives where they are most needed.

At C3 we look forward to getting hands on and collaborating with our community and government take effective and mindful climate action!

Shown: results from in-person survey of Energy Cost burden and the importance of taking climate action at Southwood