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Congregations need NC’s solar tax credits extended

By chris

Every faith tradition mandates care of creation and the moral call to address the issues and impacts of our changing climate. If we fail to address the most significant environmental […]

Congregations need NC’s solar tax credits extended

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Every faith tradition mandates care of creation and the moral call to address the issues and impacts of our changing climate. If we fail to address the most significant environmental threat to life and human civilization of our time/history, this would be a breach of our religious responsibilities.

Solar energy is one of the important “solutions” for addressing climate change, but it is tricky for non-profit religious institutions because of the expense.

NC has wonderful tax incentives which along with the federal incentives have allowed solar projects, both small and large, to blossom in the tax paying public/corporations, but it has taken time to develop models that will allow non-profit religious institutions to utilize them.

We now have proven models, the LLC (like Community Church in Chapel Hill, and Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh, Community United Church of Christ in Elon) and the individual donor model (like United Church of Chapel Hill, Temple Emanuel in Greensboro, St. Eugene’s Catholic Church in Asheville, Kehillah Synagogue in Chapel Hill, and West Raleigh Presbyterian Church), along with donation models (the capital campaign at UCCH, crowd sourcing at Community United Church of Christ in Raleigh, and grant funding at Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte) that additional congregations can use as models, IF THERE IS TIME.

Solar Trio Pics_names

Some models are able to use both federal and state tax credits (LLC model) but many more can only use the state tax credits (like UCCH) making them especially important!

THEREFORE an extension of the tax credits through 2017 would allow MANY more faith communities to put their “faith into action” on this most serious of moral and environmental challenges, benefiting from the ground work and models developed the trailblazer congregations represented here and on the NCIPL website.

Each week I am contacted by a new congregation with questions about installing solar. Faith Communities across the state recognize that clean, renewable, solar energy is a critical component of creation care in the 21st Century.

Allowing the tax credits to expire will put the breaks on what is a building wave of interest and plans to do solar energy on houses of worship in North Carolina.

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Screen Shot 2015-08-26 at 8.03.17 PMNC Interfaith Power & Light’s Director, Susannah Tuttle delivered this statement at a Press Conference held at United Church of Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 25th. The story was published in the Triangle Business Journal on Wednesday, August 26th. 

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:

EPA Takes Moral Action to Cut Carbon Pollution from Power Plants

By chris

The EPA is acting on our moral obligation to address unlimited carbon pollution coming from the nation’s power plants, the single largest source of global warming pollution in the country.

EPA Takes Moral Action to Cut Carbon Pollution from Power Plants

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EPA_IPLstatement

The EPA is acting on our moral obligation to address unlimited carbon pollution coming from the nation’s power plants, the single largest source of global warming pollution in the country. Click here to let Governor Pat McCrory know that you support the EPA’s standards!

The new standards will help usher in clean energy solutions like improved efficiency and solar power: things that NC Interfaith Power & Light congregations have been using in their facilities for years to reduce emissions and save money.

Emerging wind and solar companies have been in a David and Goliath struggle against the well-funded coal and gas industries.

By requiring a 30% reduction in carbon pollution from power plants by 2030, the standards will create a dynamic move toward cleaner energy. IPL and its 40 state affiliates reaching 15,000 congregations strongly support the EPA’s important action.

The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham, President and Founder of Interfaith Power & Light, issued the following statement:

We applaud this landmark action that comes at a pivotal time when more people than ever have recognized the threat to their health and safety from unregulated pollution. These rules will safeguard our communities, our climate, and our children’s future.

As people of faith called to care for God’s people and Creation, especially the most vulnerable, we have a moral obligation to address the profound impacts of the way we use energy.

In addition to protecting our climate, curbing pollution from power plants offers many important benefits, including saving lives and reducing health risks to those suffering from heart disease and respiratory ailments such as asthma.

Governor McCrory needs to hear that as people of faith
we support these historic landmark safeguards.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION
to help protect the blessings of clean air and water.

Vatican Call to Action

By chris

The Vatican has officially released the Papal encyclical on the environment: “Praised Be: On the Care of Our Common Home” (Laudato Si’).

Vatican Call to Action

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“Praised Be: On the Care of Our Common Home” (Laudato Si’).  View the english text of encyclical here.

A Papal encyclical is a letter sent by the Pope to the bishops of the world and to the entire Catholic population across the globe.  Additional, Pope Francis is addressing a wider audience.  During his weekly blessings in St. Peter’s Square this past Sunday, Pope Francis said, “This encyclical is aimed at everyone:  Let us pray everyone can receive its message and grow in responsibility toward the common home that God has given us.”

This is the first encyclical in the history of the Vatican to address environmental concerns.  Pope Francis has declared climate change and environmental protection as related moral, social, and ecological issues. The encyclical is bringing much needed global attention and focus to these issues, and aims to serve as a motivating force for the over one billion Catholics of the world and many other people of spiritual and environmental conviction.

This is a deeply spiritual document that needs to be fully received holistically to fully embrace its significance.  We wish to deeply honor and respond in ways that are respectful to this process.  When the Pope is visiting the U.S. in September, NCIPL will be working with Catholic congregations in NC to help hold meetings on the encyclical and how we can put our “faith into action” across through collaboration across the state.

Please contact info@ncipl.org if you would like to participate in the planning of local events in your area!

Many Faiths

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.

Clean Energy Works for US: Creation Care in North Carolina (Video)

By chris

NCIPL is proud to be featured alongside North Carolina clergy and congregations in this short video. It highlights churches who have installed solar on their houses of worship and thoughts […]

Clean Energy Works for US: Creation Care in North Carolina (Video)

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NCIPL is proud to be featured alongside North Carolina clergy and congregations in this short video. It highlights churches who have installed solar on their houses of worship and thoughts from clergy and congregation members on why they feel called to take part in care for creation. You can also hear Director Susannah Tuttle speak about NCIPL and our work with congregations.

We are grateful to have been a part of this production!