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NCIPL supports the Clean Power Plan

By chris

New federal safeguards to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants are necessary not just because they help the environment, but because they are the right and moral thing to […]

NCIPL supports the Clean Power Plan

Obama CPP release quote

New federal safeguards to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants are necessary not just because they help the environment, but because they are the right and moral thing to do, North Carolina faith leaders say.

NC Interfaith Power & Light supports the Clean Power Plan released Monday, Aug. 3, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which calls for reducing carbon pollution from existing power plants by 32 percent by 2030.

The Reverend Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director of the NC Council of Churches said the measures in the plan will take steps toward safeguarding the planet for the common good, as called for in Pope Francis’ recent encyclical on the environment.

“Pope Francis calls us to work together to take action to protect God’s creation and those who are most vulnerable to climate impacts,” she said. “The Clean Power Plan is one step in curbing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.”

The Clean Power Plan calls on states to reduce carbon emissions from power plants—which account for 40 percent of national carbon emissions—and to increase reliance on alternate, cleaner sources of power, such as wind and solar, steps North Carolina is already taking. More than 4,000 people in North Carolina have jobs related to the solar industry and jobs in the wind industry are also on the rise.

“In North Carolina, we are blessed with abundant clean sources of energy like the wind and the sun,” said Susannah Tuttle M.Div, Director of NC Interfaith Power & Light. “The Clean Power Plan will not only reduce the amount of harmful carbon pollution that is being emitted, but also serve to further drive innovation in clean energy that will be good for jobs and rural economies in our state.”

Carbon dioxide emissions have been a major driver in global climate change. Current impacts include severe storms, deadly heat waves, drought, flooding and wildfires, all of which severely impact God’s creation. Carbon pollution is also related to health problems such as respiratory ailments. Interfaith Climate Action Coalition organizer Ahmer Inam of Charlotte said the actions the plan proposes can help restore the health of the planet and its people.

CPP protection facts

“Reducing carbon emissions from existing power plants is equivalent to increasing the oxygen content in the lungs of someone trying to quit smoking,” said Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri, Director of the Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina.

Leaders of NC Interfaith Power & Light, a non-profit organization which works with all faith traditions to seek solutions to climate change, say the nation has a moral responsibility to reduce carbon pollution, since the U.S. produces more and has a greater ability to limit emissions and can help lead a global effort for reductions.

In addition, climate change significantly exacerbates issues on which congregations and faith communities are already working: issues like hunger, clean water, disaster relief, refugee services, and conflict resolution.

“Faith leaders need to connect the dots between climate change and its impacts and advocate for meaningful solutions,” Tuttle said. “Limiting carbon pollution from power plants is a key part of that solution. We call upon people of faith to provide leadership on this issue and act in the interest of the common good.”

NC Interfaith Power & Light (NCIPL) works with faith communities to identify and implement positive, hope-filled solutions and responses to climate change as a moral imperative. NCIPL is a program of the North Carolina Council of Churches, comprised of 25 distinct judicatories from 17 denominations with 1.5 million congregants across the state. In 2005, NCIPL became the 16th state affiliate of the national Interfaith Power & Light Campaign. There are now Interfaith Power & Light affiliates in 40 states in over 18,000 congregations. 

Clean Power Plan Resources:

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Hayesville, NC wins national award for work at nexus of climate and poverty

By nancy

Energy saving volunteers in North Carolina work at nexus of climate and poverty Community Inspiration Winner of IPL’s Cool Congregations Challenge Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Hayesville, North Carolina CO2 Reduction: […]

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Hayesville, NC wins national award for work at nexus of climate and poverty

Energy saving volunteers in North Carolina work at nexus of climate and poverty

Community Inspiration Winner of IPL’s Cool Congregations Challenge

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
Hayesville, North Carolina

CO2 Reduction: 33 metric tons/year
Prevents: 35,000 lbs. of coal from being burned
Families helped: 40 and counting
Percent CO2 Reduction: 10-20% per household

Good Shepherd Episcopal HayesvilleA group of around ten climate concerned volunteers from Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and the Hayesville community are answering a combined moral calling to help the poor and be good stewards of Creation. Working with local poverty and charity organizations, they have helped 40 disadvantaged families reduce their carbon footprint and save money on energy bills. After a referral is identified, the volunteer team performs a free energy assessment, identifies sources of free or low cost materials, locates sources of funding, and then provides free labor to get the job done. Upgrades include such things as LED lighting, weather stripping, insulation, and replacing inefficient heating and cooling systems. Some of the work is done in conjunction with the Hinton Center which operates a retreat / mission center in the local community and which brings in mission teams from all over the country as part of their work. Good Shepherd will be integrating its efforts with the Hinton Center so that a side benefit will be that volunteers from Hinton will learn some exposure to the energy saving approaches and ideas.

 While this effort is sponsored by Good Shepherd, volunteers of all faiths and religious backgrounds are welcomed to assist in helping our neighbors become more financially independent and reduce the financial stress of occasional extremely high energy bills.  The volunteers at Good Shepherd are also available to help congregations in other areas create an Energy Saving Volunteers effort in your local congregation or community.
For more information contact the church office at 838-389-3397, or email Brad Rouse at brouse_invest@yahoo.com or Amy Nicolson at amyandgil@hotmail.com .

We Are “Springing into Action”!

By reuben

Though the week’s main events have passed, it’s not too late to be involved. Click here to join NCIPL’s virtual advocacy campaign and send a message to your representatives asking them to support clean energy […]

We Are “Springing into Action”!

Though the week’s main events have passed, it’s not too late to be involved. Click here to join NCIPL’s virtual advocacy campaign and send a message to your representatives asking them to support clean energy for North Carolina!

Faith Voices for Clean Energy Advocacy Day
NCIPL leaders with state senator Josh Stein

 

Thank you to everyone who helped make our Spring Into Action kickoff week a success! You participated from all over the state, listening in to our webinar, sending messages to your representatives through our virtual advocacy campaign, and traveling in person to enjoy our Spring Into Action Celebration and participate in our inaugural Faith Voices for Clean Energy advocacy day. It’s been quite a week!

Greg Andeck, EDF
Greg Andeck, EDF

We started things off last week with an Advocacy Webinar, co-hosted with Greg Andeck from Environmental Defense Fund, where we talked about the current state of clean energy policies, the legislative process, and how to put our faith into action through advocating with compassion. Check out that webinar here.

We were lucky to have a special guest for this week’s activities, the Rev. Sally Bingham, founder and President of Interfaith Power & Light. She helped kick things off this past Tuesday with a special call to action announcing NCIPL’s Spring Into Action campaign; click here to view her message.

Rev. Sally Bingham
Rev. Sally Bingham
NCIPL EWG
John Seymour, NCIPL Energy Savings Analysis Auditor, receiving his award.

Tuesday evening we had our very first Spring Into Action Celebration, which featured a reception at the Museum of Natural Sciences.  Rev. Bingham shared a very moving account of her personal journey to this work, and we honored of John Seymour, one of our main auditors for our Empowered Energy Program which provides energy savings analysis for faith communities at no charge.  John has performed over 100 of these energy savings analyses.  Thanks to those involved and the many friends who came out for this fun evening!

We were also lucky to have Dayna Reggero and the Climate Listening Project with us. Check out the short video they made about the event at their facebook page.

Spring Into Action Celebration
Enjoying the Spring Into Action Celebration

Our final event was NCIPL’s inaugural Faith Voices for Clean Energy, a day of advocacy at the state legislature. We had 30 people come and take part in 27 meetings with key legislators throughout the day. NCIPL is extremely grateful to all those who took part in this momentous event. We shared our vision with over two dozen representatives, letting them know that people of faith across the state yearn for sustainable energy and a clean, healthy North Carolina.

Faith Voices for Clean Energy Advocacy Day
Advocacy Day participants start the day off with a prayer

We could not have done it without a lot of support.   First off, thank you to everyone who took part in our events this past week and who support our work year round. We were also glad to have so many friends from groups we work with in attendance, including those from the Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina, Audubon North Carolina, and the Southern Environmental Law Center. We would also like to extend a special thanks to the Raleigh office of the Environmental Defense Fund who were integral in helping put on the week’s events. Finally, we would like to thank the Rev. Sally Bingham for her inspiring presence and leadership which helped make these events successful.

Faith Voices for Clean Energy Advocacy Day
Scott Hardin-Nieri, Bruce Clarke, Veronica Shingleton, Jane Laping, and the Rev. Thomas Murphy

It’s also not too late to get involved! You can still take part in our Spring Into Action Campaign through our virtual advocacy page, where you can send a message to your representatives asking them to support clean energy for North Carolina.

We hope you stay tuned and stay in touch! We can’t wait to have more special events like these and move creation care to the forefront of our spiritual and political lives.

WITN UPDATE: Gov. McCrory applauds Carolinas offshore drilling plan

By nancy

From WITN Updated: Wed 11:42 PM, Jan 28, 2015 Watch the WITN 6 o’clock news Wednesday, January 28, 2015 recording:  Penny Hooper, co-chair of NCIPL Executive Committee, and her husband, […]

WITN UPDATE: Gov. McCrory applauds Carolinas offshore drilling plan

From WITN
Updated: Wed 11:42 PM, Jan 28, 2015

offshoreWatch the WITN 6 o’clock news Wednesday, January 28, 2015 recording:  Penny Hooper, co-chair of NCIPL Executive Committee, and her husband, Mark Hooper, were interviewed concerning offshore drilling.
“Environmentalists say they have proposed a Clean Energy Plan to Governor Pat McCrory based around wind and solar power, but the governor is still backing President Barack Obama’s proposal to bring offshore drilling to the coast of North Carolina and other areas.

Emerald Isle town officials are optimistic and open-minded about the plan, saying the economic benefits could be significant.

The proposed plan will not start leasing space out in the ocean until 2021. It includes our coast, along with South Carolina, Georgia’s coast, about 10 areas in the Gulf of Mexico and three off the coast of Alaska.

It’s something that worries fisherman and environmentalist Mark Hooper.

“We deal with shell fish. I grow clams. Clams are filter feeders. Anything in the water they are going to take up,” says Hooper. “It’s that beautiful seafood that people identify with the coast.”

We asked the North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries about how offshore drilling could impact them, but they said it was too early in the proposal to comment.

For those who oppose the drilling plan, there is a nationwide protest on May 16 called “Hands Across the Sand.” The movement opposes offshore oil drilling and supports alternative clean energy.”

We Drew a Line in the Sand

By nancy

On Saturday, May 17, at noon, about 30 people gathered at the Atlantic Beach/Fort Macon Swimming Beach for the nation-wide “Hands Across the Sand Demonstration” to promote clean energy and […]

We Drew a Line in the Sand

Hands across the sandsOn Saturday, May 17, at noon, about 30 people gathered at the Atlantic Beach/Fort Macon Swimming Beach for the nation-wide “Hands Across the Sand Demonstration” to promote clean energy and protest offshore oil drilling. The following organizations were represented: NC Interfaith Power and Light, Croatan Group of the NC Sierra Club, the Surfriders Association and the Unitarian Coastal Fellowship Green Sanctuary Committee.

People got “Fired Up” Watching “Shored Up”

By nancy

Penny Hooper, NCIPL Executive Committee. On Friday night, May 9, the movie “Shored Up” was shown at the Unitarian Coastal Fellowship in Morehead City to 40 people. Afterwards, we discussed what […]

People got “Fired Up” Watching “Shored Up”

Penny Hooper introducing the film, "Shored Up"
Penny Hooper introducing the film, “Shored Up”

Penny Hooper, NCIPL Executive Committee.

On Friday night, May 9, the movie “Shored Up” was shown at the Unitarian Coastal Fellowship in Morehead City to 40 people.

Afterwards, we discussed what we could do as coastal residents in the face of all the issues covered in the movie:  increased severe storms, sea level rise and demands by second home owners and developers for hardened shorelines, and more costly beach re-nourishment along our shores. These are part of our everyday coastal existence.

Several of the people in the audience decided to go before the Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) which met in Morehead City on May 15, to testify during the public comment period about our needs for increased action by the state government on climate change issues, specifically sea level rise. The Governor will be appointing a citizen panel following the CRC meeting to study the state’s response to inevitable future sea level rise.

We are asking to see true scientists who understand the problem appointed to this panel rather than climate change deniers and coastal developers who have large financial interest in maintaining the current unrealistic view of many of our elected officials on the problem of sea level rise.