By Karlah Y. Burton
I made the earth, and created humankind upon it;
it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.
—Isaiah 45:12 (NRSV)
On Thursday, October 16, 2025, I and other supporters of Clean Energy Now of Guilford County, NC, gathered to speak up for clean energy before the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. We were urging them to pass a resolution to accomplish a transition to 100% clean energy in county operations by 2050! Similar enactments have already been made by city government and the Guilford County School System.
Specifically, here is a list of items that are under consideration:
- Transition of (Guilford) County operations to 100% clean energy by 2050.
- Create a strategic energy plan.
- Apply to be a LEED* certified community.
- Build new buildings to the LEED silver level.
- Transition county-owned vehicles to electric or hybrid.
As a person of faith, I have a moral commitment to consider the ramifications of the global overuse of fossil fuels, which is warming our planet, affecting wildlife, and threatening health, water resources, buildings, infrastructure, and vulnerable communities. I need to be personally accountable for injustices such as poor air quality and the effects of pollutants that come from proximity to toxic waste facilities and that disproportionately burden low-income and entire U.S due to existing policies.
As a city/county resident for over 50 years, I was glad to have been able to make my voice heard as part of the third such campaign presented by Clean Power Now Greensboro for a clean energy commitment!
*LEED certification is a globally recognized program for green buildings.
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Karlah Y. Burton, BS, BA, is a current member of Saint Matthews UMC located in Greensboro, NC. She has served as chairperson of her church’s Earth Care Ministry since 2020. Ms. Burton is also a commissioned General Board of Global Ministries Earthkeeper, serves as part of the Western NC Annual Conference Creation Care Team Ministry, is a member of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and is currently a Master Gardener Volunteer Intern on behalf of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension – Guilford County (NC) Center. In addition, Ms. Burton has worked as a substitute teacher on behalf of Guilford County Schools for nearly six years.