After months of fighting by the Rochester for Energy Democracy (RED) and the community, the Rochester City Council voted to unanimously approve funding for an implementation study!  This huge win was made possible by community members like you!

But Monroe County Executive Adam Bello is currently opposed to even studying a way for residents to have lower rates, better customer service, and better local jobs with benefits, even though most county legislators from his own party support it. See our response to his new position here. Ultimately, the people can pressure officials to do the right thing. 

We're winning, and to keep winning we need more folks to fight with us!  Canvassing is a great way to help and meet our volunteers leading the campaign, learn about the campaign, and practice talking about the campaign with other residents to spread awareness and grow our movement. 

RED is our campaign to replace RG&E with a public, local, community controlled utility. To guarantee profits for its shareholders, RG&E has exploited local residents with unreasonably expensive rates, poor customer service, power outages caused by a disastrously maintained grid, inhumane shut offs, outsourcing jobs away from Rochester, and continuing to burn fossil fuels responsible for climate change.

With a public utility instead, we will have: affordable rates, a rapid green energy transition, more local union jobs with good wages and benefits, and a real say. We all need heat, electricity, and a healthy planet for future generations. A public utility is how we ensure that our utility serves us instead of lining the pockets of distant shareholders!

Our fight for a just utility is stronger with more people involved. Come canvass with us so that we can reach more Monroe County residents about this important fight and push Bello and the Monroe County Legislature to help fund the study! 

Please RSVP below as soon as possible; please RSVP so that we can have enough materials for everyone. The canvass will take place from 1:00 - 5:00 PM on Sunday, July 9th, starting at the Metro Justice office. There will be a brief training before participants split into pairs and depart for their turf. We will reconvene at the Metro Justice office or in the neighborhood by 4:45 PM to hand in petitions and debrief.

To learn more about RED and how we win, click here!