At California Interfaith Power & Light (CIPL), we often say that our faith calls us to be caregivers for our neighbors, for our communities, and for our common home. In a time of rising temperatures and rising utility bills, that call to care has never been more urgent.
We are thrilled to announce that our Faith Climate Action Kit advocacy postcards for SB 868 are officially printed and ready to be filled out.
While digital advocacy is important, there is something sacred about a handwritten note. In a world dominated by screens, a physical postcard on a legislator’s desk stands out. It represents a real constituent who took the time to sit down, reflect, and speak up for their values.
The Case for SB 868
As people of faith and conscience, we are called to stand with the vulnerable. In California, that means standing with renters, low-income families, and those who are disproportionately burdened by the cost of energy and the effects of pollution.
SB 868, also known as the “Balcony Solar” bill, removes the red tape blocking access to plug-in solar. This new technology involves smaller solar panels that require nothing more than a patch of sunlight and a standard electrical outlet to immediately provide power for a home.
Because these devices are smaller and more affordable, they are a game-changer for the 44% of California households who rent. SB 868 unlocks access to clean energy for millions who have been previously locked out of the solar revolution, those who don’t own a single-family home or can’t afford a massive rooftop installation.
What the Postcard Says
We’ve made it easy for you to lift your voice. The postcard included in this kit is pre-addressed to your legislator with a simple, powerful message:
Dear Legislator,
As a person of faith and conscience, I am strongly in support of SB 868 which will make solar power more accessible to all. Californians need greater access to affordable and reliable electricity. This is important for our health and safety, especially as temperatures rise. Continued use of fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation perpetuates air pollution and drives more extreme temperatures.
One of the most effective solutions is also the most obvious and the most politically popular: reduce red tape and expand access to the sun through “Balcony Solar.”
This new technology, aka “plug-in solar,” involves small, portable solar panels that require nothing more than a patch of sunlight and a standard electrical outlet to immediately provide power for a home. Because the devices are small, affordable and portable they are especially promising for California renters.
Through SB 868, California can bring immediate utility bill relief to millions of households while contributing to our state’s clean energy goals. Please vote yes on SB 868!
Faithfully,
(Your Name)
(Your Email Address)
How to use the FCAW Kit
Getting this kit ready is simple, but the impact is lasting.
- Request Your Kit: Head over to our action center to request your packet of postcards. Click here to request your kit.
- Gather Your Congregation: We encourage you to do this in community. Bring these postcards to your congregation’s coffee hour, your faith formation class, or a small group gathering. Writing together turns a solitary action into a shared ministry.
- Sign and Send: Fill out your information, sign your name, and drop these in the mail. Your voice, grounded in faith and stewardship, will travel directly to Sacramento.
A Faith-Based Act of Stewardship
The climate crisis can often feel overwhelming. We look at the rising temperatures and the stubborn reliance on fossil fuels and wonder, What can one person do?
By picking up a pen, you are doing something. You are reminding our leaders that there is a moral imperative behind policy. You are advocating for an obvious, popular, and effective solution that brings immediate relief to families struggling to pay their bills while also healing our planet.
Let’s show Sacramento what people of faith and conscience look like when we organize. Let’s cover their desks with postcards demanding clean, accessible, and affordable solar power for all Californians.
Solar Spotlight: Congregation Beth Am