We need a movement to combat climate change, we need it fast, and we need it to involve as many congregations as possible... But why should church people be at the forefront of this movement?... If you care about social justice, this is the biggest battle we've ever faced... If you care about the rest of God's creation, then get to work. God made (in whatever way) the creatures of the earth and of the sea; we're now engaged in a massive, rapid act of decreation... If you care about the future - about 10,000 generations yet unborn - then this is your cause... If you care about the selfish individualism that has come to define too much of our culture, then this is the chance to act.
Bill McKibben, a Methodist Sunday School teacher, is the author of The End of Nature and is a scholar in residence at Middlebury College. These excerpts are from “Meltdown”, an article in The Christian Century, February 20, 2007.
NC SAVE$ ENERGY– House Bill 1050
NC IPL is part of a broad coalition of 32 advocacy organizations from the consumer, social justice, environmental, and housing communities that has just introduced House Bill 1050 NC SAVE$ ENERGY into the General Assembly. We are the only faith-based organization in this coalition and are recognized as a highly valued partner in the conceptualization, writing, and grassroots lobbying effort to help pass this important legislation.
This legislation will provide long term funding for weatherization and other energy efficiency upgrades for existing housing stock in NC. The initial target population will be low income to moderate-income households. The funding will be in the form of grants and no to low interest loans. There are obvious very important social and environmental components to this legislation that the faith community is especially able to articulate.
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The NC SAVE$ ENERGY website has all the relevant information on the program, how to contact your legislator, or how to join our volunteers for this project. Please call your state Representative and ask them to support NC SAVE$ ENERGY. Click here to find your Representative’s phone number.
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Coal Campaign: Stop Cliffside
Cliffside is an 800 MW coal burning power plant that Duke Energy is building in Rutherford County. NC IPL is part of a coalition of environmental groups trying to stop the construction on a variety of fronts that include legal, legislative, and grassroots strategies. The scientific and moral consensus is that burning coal for electricity is dangerous to the public health and to climate stability. Our belief, shared with National IPL and the consensus of scientists is that we must stop burning coal as soon as possible, not build new coal plants, and retire existing ones as soon as efficiency measures and renewable energy installations can provide for sufficient energy.
The coalition is now working on an expanded long range campaign to make NC coal free by 2025. More details will be forthcoming in the next month.
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ATTEND NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION HEARING ON THE INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN
The NC Utilities Commission is holding a public hearing on Duke Energy's and Progress Energy's Integrated Resource Plan in which they lay out their plans for our future energy needs for the next 15 years. The hearing is on Monday, March 15th at 7 p.m. at the hearing room in the Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC.
To learn more about the IRP process and read talking points for hearing click here.
If you can't attend and wish to submit written comments, you can send them to Chairman Edward Finley, Chairman, NC Utilities Commission, 4325 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27669-4325 or email finely@ncuc.net. Please reference Docket No. E-100 Sub 124. Written comments can be submitted at the hearing
Thanks for your continued support of our public policy efforts.
for Earth Peace!
Richard Fireman, Public Policy Coordinator
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Coal Campaign: Mountaintop Removal
On December 1, 2009, the NC Council of Churches adopted a Resolution asking Gov. Perdue and the General Assembly to work to pass legislation prohibiting NC electric utilities from using coal sourced from MTR mining. You can read about the destructive effects of MTR mining on the earth and human communities and the Resolution here. NC IPL has begun conversations with both Duke Energy and Progress Energy on the possibilities of their stopping the sourcing of coal from MTR mining.
U.S. Congress
Appalachian Voices is also the lead environmental group that is taking the lead on two bills in the 111th Congress, the Clean Water Protection Act in the Legislature - H.R. 1310, and the Appalachia Restoration Act in the Senate - S. 696. These Bills would outlaw mining companies from placing “fill” – the term used for trees, vegetation, and other rock that is blasted in order to reach the coal seam – into the streams of Appalachia. Already nearly 500 mountains have been destroyed in Appalachia. These mountains are among the oldest on earth. Their biodiversity is a testimony to God’s goodness, grace, and love of beauty. Human communities are also being destroyed as their water becomes unsafe to drink and their air becomes unsafe to breath.
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Two websites will help you understand the gravity of the problem and link you to actions you can take to influence your legislators on the Federal and State levels. Also, more information on the Appalachian Mountains Protection Act, includes End Mountaintop Removal.
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American Clean Energy and Security Act Of 2009 (H -2454)
The Clean Energy bill, acronym ACES, passed the House of Representatives in June. For a good understanding of the position of the faith community please read the comments of John Hill, the Director of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church - Consumer Protection in Climate Legislation. More background material can be found in the National Call to Action on Global Warming.
Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (CEJAPA S. 1733)
The Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee just passed the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act out o Committee (CEJAPA S. 1733). To read an overview of this draft legislation click here.
Over the next several months other Committees will be crafting amendments and seeking coalitions. It is unlikely that the Senate will have a final bill until sometime in early 2010. The faith community has a special obligation to the justice elements of such legislation. We also are committed to make sure that any bill is based on current science and provides a real solution to help mitigate the worst effects of rapidly accelerating climate change. Senator Hagan has signed a letter to the President outlining her position on climate and energy legislation. You can read this letter here. One item for which she is advocating will make it difficult for very poor nations to develop a modern energy economy. This is her recommendation of strict preservation of intellectual property rights on technology, which will make it prohibitively expensive for these countries to innovate and modernize.
Over the next several months other Committees will be crafting amendments and seeking coalitions. It is unlikely that the Senate will have a final bill until sometime in early 2010. The faith community has a special obligation to the justice elements of such legislation. We also are committed to make sure that any bill is based on current science and provides a real solution to help mitigate the worst effects of rapidly accelerating climate change. Senator Hagan has signed a letter to the President outlining her position on climate and energy legislation. You can read this letter here. One item for which she is advocating will make it difficult for very poor nations to develop a modern energy economy. This is her recommendation of strict preservation of intellectual property rights on technology, which will make it prohibitively expensive for these countries to innovate and modernize.
It is very important that our Senators hear from us. Public support will help overcome the immense power of corporate lobbying. It is our responsibility as citizens and stewards of God's creation to show our love by faithful action.
Murkowski Resolution
Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has entered a formal Resolution in the Senate attempting to block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating the greenhouse gas CO2 as a pollutant. To read the resolution click here. To understand the history of Sen. Murkowski's environmental agenda click here. The Supreme Court has given the authority to determine whether or not CO2 endangers human health, and if so, the EPA has authority to regulate it. IPL along with an overwhelming majority on environmental organizations want the EPA to have the authority to regulate CO2 whether or not the Congress passes climate legislation.
Please send Senator Hagan and Burr a strong Valentine's Day Message to Love God, Protect and Heal Earth by voting NO on the Murkowski Resolution and by supporting strong climate and energy legislation. Phone numbers below
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Call or write to Senator Hagan and Senator Burr
Senator Hagan's DC phone # is (202) 224- 6342. Her Greensboro phone # is (336) 333-5311. If you write, please address your letter to her at state headquarters, 701 Green Valley Rd., Greensboro, NC, 27408
Senator Burr's DC phone # is (202) 224-3154. His Winston-Salem phone # is (336) 631-5125. If you write, please address your letter to his at state headquarters, 2000 W First St., Suite 508, Winston-Salem, NC 27114.
Please ask your Senators to be a strong voice of leadership for a climate and energy bill that embodies the values of their faith tradition. Improving ACES is key. We are asking for
Learn more by reading these documents:
Energy Efficiency: The Smart Way to Save Money and Create Jobs, latest information from the Amercian Council on an Energy Efficiency Economy
Building on the Success of Energy Efficiency: Programs to Ensure an Affordable Energy Future is a report released recently by the Consumers Federation of America. Read the press release about the report here.
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