Sample Cover Letter to James E. Rohr (from an organization)

Date

James E. Rohr
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
PNC Executive Client Relations
Mailstop P6-PUSX-36-1
600 Grant St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Mr. James Rohr,

We are writing to inform you that on (insert date) the (insert organizational name) officially resolved our intention to close our PNC bank account and end a (insert number) year long relationship with your institution.
A copy of the resolution is attached.

We believe that in order for PNC to be in integrity with its stated values, the bank must institute a sector exclusion for financing companies that practice mountaintop removal coal mining.  We understand that the Earth Quaker Action Team has been calling on you to take this step for the last two years and that you have refused to do so.

There has been a clear call by the people of Appalachia for an end to the practice of this environmentally devastating strip mining technique. We assert that any association with the efforts by the coal industry to subvert this call puts your company out of integrity with your own public statement that “(a)mong America's top financial institutions, no company has done more to energize the green cause . . . than PNC.”
We recognize that PNC adopted a new policy addressing mountaintop removal mining in late 2010. Despite this, we understand that there has been no clear change in your underwriting practice and that PNC continues to provide financing for coal companies responsible for at least 45% of all mountaintop removal coal mined in Appalachia.

We believe that your company has much to gain by taking a lead in helping to build a sustainable energy market and a diversified, environmentally-enlightened economy in concert with the people of Appalachia.  We all have much to lose from wringing the last dollars out of a dying and immoral Appalachian coal industry.  We continue to believe that one day you will see where the real strength of your future lies and will drop your involvements in mountaintop removal coal mining.

We could not agree more when you were quoted on PNC’s website saying, “A business cannot succeed if its communities are not well positioned for future growth and success.” 

We look forward to hearing of the day, in the near future, when we can work together towards building a prosperous Appalachian community, where the people are healthy, where their lives are successful.

Mountaintop removal coal mining will have no part to play on such a day.  Until you end your association with companies that practice mountaintop removal, we must end our banking relationship with you.

Yours,

Name of Representative
Title
Name of Organization

Attach copy of the Resolution

(Consider sending a copy of this letter to your local newspaper and posting it on your website.)