Eject Energix Campaign—Sign our Eject Energix Petition!
The Virginia Coalition for Human Rights (VCHR) supports responsible solar energy, but it opposes the construction of 22 solar energy projects by Energix in Virginia. The map below shows the status of Energix solar projects as of July 2021.
VCHR opposes Energix because it is an LLC incorporated under Energix Group, Ltd., an Israeli-based company that has been cited by the United Nations for its violations of human rights in the West Bank and the Golan Heights.
On March 4, 2022, Jeanne Trabulsi presented a comprehensive overview of the Eject Energix campain at the Transcending the Israel Lobby Home and Abroad Conference 2022. The conference was held at the The National Press Club and organized by the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy, Inc.
Below is a video recording of Jeanne Trabulsi's presentation: "Energix in Virginia: VCHR Pushback".
Besides citations by the U.N., Energix has been referenced by various other organizations for its violations of human rights as detailed in the reports listed below.
- On February 12, 2020, the United Nations Human Rights Council designated Energix Renewable Energies, Ltd. as a Category G company operating in Israeli occupied territories and stated that the company’s activities “raised particular human rights concerns.” [1]
- In January of 2017, the organization Who Profits referred to Article 55 of the Hague Regulations and cited Energix Renewable Energies, Ltd. for a variety of violations, including the following: Illegally seizing 98,749 square meters of Palestinian land to build its Meitarim Solar Field in the West Bank; and illegally operating a 155-MW wind turbine facility in the Golan Heights. [2]
- On June 25, 2019, the American Friends Service Committee warned that Energix Renewable Energies, Ltd. owns a commercial solar facility located in the Meitarim illegal settlement in the West Bank. Energix has also developed a wind energy project in the Golan Heights, reportedly using questionable methods in obtaining access to the land from its indigenous Syrian-Druze owners, and in violation of international law.[3]
Doing business with Energix could also create questions of compliance with federal and international law. When Energix begins transmitting revenues through its corporate entities to its parent company, the operation will, in effect, be financing enterprises against territories and peoples with whom the United States is at peace.[4] There is already litigation between Energix Renewable Energies, Ltd. and residents of Golan Heights,[5] and other potential legal battles are anticipated.
As part of its Energix campaign, VCHR has contacted officials of the localities doing business with Energix. In our letters we make the officials aware of the human-rights violations by Energix and ask them to consider alternative Virginia and US-based solar companies.
We point out that, in addition to this violation of federal law, there are additional, potential adverse impacts of conducting business with Energix, which are contained in the following questions.
- Moral hazard. Because Energix Renewable Energies Ltd and its subsidiary Energix have actively concealed present complicity in human rights violations and potential violations of 18 U.S. Code § 960, will they also flout other U.S. laws and legal obligations?
- Financial wherewithal. Because Energix Renewable Energies Ltd. and its subsidiary Energix have actively concealed their complicity in human rights violations, will there be liabilities from potential victim litigation that could impair Energix's operations in Virginia, including smooth delivery of electricity to the wholesale market?
- Reputational risk. Because Energix Renewable Energies Ltd. and its subsidiary Energix have actively concealed their complicity in human rights violations, will the public image of Virginia localities with whom they do business be negatively impacted?
[1] “Database of all business enterprises involved in the activities detailed in paragraph 96 of the Independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,” February 12, 2020, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1475002?ln=en.
[2] “Greenwashing the Occupation: The Solar Energy Industry and the Israeli Occupation”, January 2017, Who Profits, https://whoprofits.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/old/greenwashing_the_occupation_web.pdf.
[3] “Alony-Hetz Properties and Investments Ltd: An Israeli investment firm. Its subsidiary Energix Renewable Energy has projects in the occupied West Bank and Golan Heights. Its subsidiary Amot Investments owns an industrial building in the occupied West Bank.” June 25, 2019, American Friends Service Committee, https://investigate.afsc.org/company/alony-hetz.
[4] Under 18 U.S. Code §960. Expedition against friendly nation. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/960.
[5] Clean energy, dirty dealing: Syrian Druze resist greenwashing of Golan occupation, February 6, 2020, +972 Magazine, https://www.972mag.com/syrian-druze-golan-heights-greenwashing/.
What can you do?
Please support this important cause by signing our Eject Energix petition!
News Releases
09/10/2020 - VCHR opposes excessive Virginia subsidies to Energix Renewable Energies, Ltd.