California Interfaith Power & Light

Our Faith, Our Planet, Our Responsibility.

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COVID-19 – Prayers, Services and Resources

Historically, the faith community has been one religious and social constant in times of upheaval and uncertainty. With the coronavirus threat restricting our usual daily routine, many of us are concerned about the health of loved ones and ourselves; our finances; our job security or, for too many of us, the loss of a job; and social isolation.

The faith community again is here to stand strong in the face of this shared threat, to pray alongside with, to offer practical action opportunities and to provide information on difficult situations faced by our brothers and sisters. In addition to the resources below, if you know of others that may be useful, please send them to CIPL staff.


Health Information and Updates:
 From the Centers for Disease Control
From the California Department of Public Health
Excellent information from the American Psychological Association

On-going Prayer Services and Words of Comfort: (many houses of worship and organizations are offering online prayers and live-streaming services. The plus side of this is you can attend anywhere – check our CIPL member congregation list to find one and, of course, ascertain  with your own congregation.)


Policy Action: We need to make sure that legislators are poised and will act quickly on pollution reduction and our climate crisis and, indeed, to include appropriate responses now. Cutting air pollution saves lives and can improve respiratory health especially for vulnerable people. Here are some climate issues that you can take action on now and stay aware of:


Social Resources – many of our brothers and sisters have been hard-hit by this pandemic with job loss; financial insecurity; and health challenges. The resources below were provided by the office Senator Henry Stern:

  • If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 you may qualify for Paid Family Leave (PFL).
  • If you’re unable to work due to medical quarantine or illness, you may qualify for Disability Insurance.
  • Those who have lost a job or have had their hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19 may be able to partially recover their wages by filing an unemployment insurance claim.
  • If a worker or a family member is sick or for preventative care when civil authorities recommend quarantine, workers may use accrued paid sick leave in accordance with the law.
  • If workers are unable to do their usual job because they were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 during the regular course of their work, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
  • PG&E Customers – read the latest on non-suspension of services and more
  • East Bay Community Energy Customers – COVID-19 Consumer Protections

 

A celebratory interfaith prayer service accompanied the 2015 Cool Climate Awards
at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland

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2020 Action – Off to a running start

 

from left – Donte Woods from PSR-LA; David Andrade and Stella Ursua of GRID; and Jackie Badejo from Watts Clean Air & Energy Comm at Green Justice event

CIPL has started off 2020 with a climate bang! The 2020s is our best – and final – decade to avert the worst of climate change effects, and the faith community is responding in kind.

CIPL staff presented to several congregations in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, San Mateo, Watts, and Menlo Park on a variety of issues, including climate justice, transportation electrification, climate activism, carbon neutrality for houses of worship, and building faith advocacy.

In early February, CIPL hosted a group of Middlebury College students from Vermont for an “immersion week” demonstrating the faith/ecology nexus. Many of the students had taken a course from Bill McKibben, father of 350.org, who teaches at Middlebury. They came with a trained perspective of conservation and a systemic way of looking at issues.

The “Green Justice” event on February 5 was a highlight, exemplifying the power of community while delving deeply into the many justice issues related to climate change and sustainability. Held at Tabernacle of Faith Baptist Church in Watts, folks from the faith, justice, green career, and education sectors stressed an over-arching concern – truly sustainable communities that include affordable housing. Two themes were repeated. One, systems management – that construction, housing, safety and sustainability don’t exist in a vacuum, but when change is proposed, it must be part of a larger discussion of how the greater “eco-system” will be affected. Two, there was great interest in community investment strategies – how residents of Watts can take ownership of employment, housing, and sustainability strategies so that improvements for the community do not mean money taken out or displacement of members.

Midllebury College students with Dr. John Cobb at Uncommon Good

Strong work on policy has already taken place in 2020. Some 2019 priority legislation that did not pass in 2019 have received even greater support for their success in 2020. These include AB 345 (Muratsuchi), that calls for the Department of Conservation to study and implement a health and safety buffer zone between oil and gas extraction sites and homes, schools, churches and other such areas. In a concerted effort to get AB 345 passed in the Assembly by January 31, CIPL sent out an alert that yielded more than 100 letters of support. AB 345 did pass the Assembly and is now making its way through the Senate, and statewide workshops on this issue will include attendees from the faith community.

Another set of legislation from 2019 is SB 54 and AB 1080, which will have California reduce plastic use by 75% by 2030. Again, CIPL and supporters are already attending in-district legislative meetings, signing petitions, and holding planning meetings aimed at the passage of these bills.

In addition to the above policy, there has been strong action on a number of initiatives in the last three months: banning natural gas in San Jose; Caltrans oversight; environmental justice action at the port of Stockton; fare-free transit for youth; and the push for greater public transit in heavily-traveled areas of the Golden State.

If you and/your house of worship is involved in a climate issue in your community, or you want to be more involved, contact Liore or Allis for more information.

 

 

 

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Climate Strike re-energizes demand for climate action

The 2019 Climate Strike brought millions of people all over the world together, demanding large-scale solutions to the climate crisis be implemented on an accelerated timeling. In solidarity with a growing number of youth coming on board the climate train, the Strike re-energized people of all backgrounds.

Interfaith Power & Lights from 40 states and the District of Columbia were at the forefront of the Strike, reinforcing calls for climate action and justice, as we have been doing for two decades. Check out some the pictures below from California rallies.

 

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CIPL Members Making a Large-Scale Difference

For years, the faith community has been making an impact on greening their facilities, educating their members and impacting clean energy and climate legislation. Our colleagues at Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto are showing us another path to the transition to a cleaner world – large-scale solar within the Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) system.

Simply put, FIT allows placement of a large-scale solar system to be placed on a property with all of the electricity generated going directly to the local utility. Usually, a FIT project is placed on governmental property. UU Church of Palo Alto was the first non-governmental property in Palo Alto to have a FIT system placed. Working without a “playbook”, the congregation had the good fortune of needed personnel within its membership to accomplish the project, including:

  • attorneys, one of whom had formerly worked for the City, and one who currently works for a law firm in the City
  • an electrical engineer who had worked in electrical power supply projects for the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC) and other nuclear labs
  • several activists for clean energy
  • a consultant who had designed the feed-in tariff program for the City
  • a highly experienced CEO of start-ups in Silicon Valley
  • a tough-minded Board President with the patience needed for the job
  • a supportive congregation that voted 100% in favor of the project.

Working with the City of Palo Alto in a highly supportive and streamline process, a 233-kilowatt solar canopy system commenced on September 14, 2014. The developer for the project was Kommuna Energy of Palo Alto; the electrical contractor was Sprig Electric of San Jose; and the owner is Valta Energy in San Carlos. It was finished on July 3, 2018, and now provides electricity directly to the City of Palo Alto Utilities Department. To read more, check out this article.

Feed-In-Tariff projects are fast becoming a staple for many utility companies in the Golden State. Some large utilities, are combining FIT programs with environmental justice aims, such as the rooftop solar program for low-income residents, from Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. Recognizing that solar homes are often in wealthier areas, climate justice advocates are actively supporting such projects, which allow all communities to benefit from renewable – and more affordable – energy. CIPL has been active on advocacy for the production of FIT projects for years, staring in 2011 with the LADWP.

To check out possible opportunities in your area, get more information on California FIT programs.

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September Haps – EV’s, GCAS, EPA Hearing and More

Climate-related events after September 8’s RISE for Climate, Jobs and Justice continued seemingly, non-stop, bringing out the faithful who are tireless advocates for a sustainable world. And the efforts of the California faith community and CIPL will continue unabated as we fall into Autumn. Stay tuned!

Members of the Watts Task Force display a Certificate of Environmental Recognition from Congressmember Barragan. Photo credit: Corey Burns.

On the same day as the international RISE marches, the Watts Clean Air and Energy Task Force, of which CIPL is a member, held their third EV Ride ‘n’ Drive. Held at St. John’s United Methodist Church, this event brought out faith and community leaders, a number of clean air vehicles and booths that hosted environmental programs as well as kids’ activities. Clean vehicles included the Nissan Leaf and Tesla. A centerpiece of the event was the official switching on of St. John’s first solar system, a highlight celebrated by church and community members alike.

A child demonstrates Watts’ environmental leadership. Photo credit: Corey Burns.

Eric Tell, a former resident of Watts and member of St. John’s, brought his Tesla. He sent the Task Force an email after the event expressing his admiration, writing “I’m very happy to have been there. It was an amazing event at a church that has been at the forefront of progress and community development/togetherness for decades. I’ve seen first-hand how St. John’s has stepped out and led in areas from feeding the community and providing a safe space for children in the summer, to educational programs aimed at general literacy and biblical literacy.” Thanks to its embrace of sustainable measures, St. John’s can add environmental leadership to the list.

 

Community, faith and environmental activists celebrated Watts’ environmental leadership. Photo credit: Corey Burns

 

(from left) Christine Monroe, Swami Tattwamayananda and Angie Dickson with the earth altar at the Prayer Workshop.

From September 12 to September 14, the international community came together in San Francisco for the Global Climate Action Summit. The faith community, largely organized by Interfaith Power & Light, the Episcopal Diocese of California and GreenFaith, assisted in planning and presenting the multi-faith service that preceded the opening of the Summit, as well as multiple affiliated faith workshops. CIPL staff helped to present several of the workshops, including one called “Act as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God.” In this workshop, a communal, weekly prayer was launched called “Global Ten Prayer,” which focuses prayers from multiple faith traditions on to current and on-going environmental challenges from a changing climate. Do you have favorite prayers for Creation that you’d like to see added to our list and/or a situation to pray for? Send an email to allis@interfaithpower.org.



Participants at the Prayer Workshop pray for all of Creation

 

A rally in support of Clean Cars Standards was held prior to the EPA/NHTSA Hearing in Fresno.

On September 24, members of the faith community came to Fresno for the first of three hearings on the proposed rollback of the Clean Cars Standards. In August 2012, the Obama Administration finalized ground-breaking standards, increasing the fuel efficiency of cars and light-duty trucks to 54.5 mpg by model year 2025. This mpg standard would take place in phases, slowly ramping up fuel efficiency, and was agreed upon in many negotiations with the EPA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and automakers.

IPL President Rev. Susan Guy, staff Bill Bradlee, and Rev. Ara Guekguezian of Fresno spoke eloquently at the EPA/NHTSA Hearing in Fresno.

On August 2nd, 2018, the EPA and NHTSA, directed by the Trump Administration, announced an alternative to the Clean Cars Standards. Ironically named SAFE (The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule), this would result in a significant weakening of fuel efficiency and tailpipe emissions standards. A 60-day public comment period is open until October 26 and three hearings were held in the country to get the public’s and industry’s feedback on this proposal. Interfaith Power & Light switched into high gear in recruiting clergy and other faith leaders to turn out for the hearings in Fresno (Sep 24), Dearborn, MI (Sep 25) and Pittsburgh, PA (Sep 26.)

CIPL staff member Allis Druffel was thrilled to travel from L.A. to Fresno in a Honda Clarity Hydrogen Fuel Cell car.

The Fresno EPA/NHTSA brought more than 100 advocates. Comment after comment were in support of keeping the Clean Cars Standards in place as is with no deviation. Faith leaders, including Rev. Susan Hendershot, president of IPL, and Rev. Ara Guekguzian of Fresno, along with representatives from equity, policy, business, environmental and public health sectors were on hand. They hammered home common themes of protection of public health, increase in clean energy jobs, and lowered fuel and service costs. In fact, 99% of the commenters urged the EPA and NHTSA to withdraw the proposal to rollback the standards. Tell Trump you support the Clean Cars standards, too.

Leaders from IPL, United Methodist Women, and United Church of Christ deliver a petition signed by 4,500 people of faith to Ford Motor urging its unwavering support of the Clean Cars Standards.

 

On September 25, a CIPL webinar aimed at the Los Angeles County faithful, presented several resources for congregations and their members. You can check them out, too! The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (LADWP’s) Direct Install Program provides a free assessment of your congregation(‘)s’ facility(ies) and free energy and water efficiency measures. The Low-Income Weatherization Program offers a free home assessment and free energy and water-efficiency measures to region and income-qualified households. Our colleagues at Sunistics presented information of facility Demand Charges, how your facility uses energy, and how you are charged by your utility company. They also gave overview information of solar and battery storage. Contact a Sunistics representative and get a free analysis of your congregation’s energy use and Demand Charges.

 

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California Interfaith Power & Light
672 13th Street, Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 444-4891
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Phone: (310) 752-3436)
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