Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light
A Spiritual Response to Climate Change
In mid-April 2023 Interfaith Power and Light delivered a letter signed by over 15,500 people of faith to Toyota headquarters calling on them to commit to 100% electric vehicles by 2035. Although we requested a formal meeting with them, Toyota refused to meet with us. Despite their unwillingness to engage in discussion with IPL, we will continue to advocate for clean transportation for all! Watch the video of our experience here.
Join Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light as we celebrate Faith Climate Action Week! We will have several events surrounding the theme of Living The Golden Rule: Just Transition To A Clean Energy Economy including a webinar, two Garden Blessings both in Nashville (virtual) and Clarksville (in person) and participation in Nashville’s Earth Day!
Done on Nashville TIPL’s Facebook Page
April 14 12:00 AM until April 23 Noon CDT
Events include:
Stretching a dollar to help more people in your community just got a boost from Uncle Sam, and nonprofits are networking about this all-over East Tennessee. This past week, various nonprofits gathered in both Oak Ridge and Morristown, all listening to details about federal 30% Direct Pay supporting solar.
Executive Director Ashley Hux invited various Hamblen County nonprofits at Central Services in Morristown for a monthly lunch-n-learn, where Solar Alliance VP Harvey Abouelata explained the ins and outs of planning for solar. The opportunity is greater now with the new federal incentive for nonprofits to see a faster return on their investment and long-term energy savings.
Hux said, “As a nonprofit over 50 years old, we have had our fair share of finding creative ways to save money so we can serve those in need. Exploring another option, such as solar power, just makes sense and feels like a good way for Central Services to explore new ways of sustainability so we can continue to serve the community for another 50 years.”
Abouelata shared the case study of installing solar at Faith Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge, where the new system is already producing electricity at about a third the cost of what they pay the local electric company. The church plans on using that federal incentive to receive money back, greatly reducing its overall system cost. While the Direct Pay feature is well-documented in the Inflation Reduction Act, nonprofits are still awaiting specific guidance from the Internal Revenue Service on how to apply for it.
Faith Lutheran leaders hosted an evening workshop for other churches and organizations this past week. Cost savings over time will support the church’s ongoing ministries. Yet, they shared that their motivation was not only to save money. “We want to be good stewards of our environment,” said the Rev. Chase LeFort, senior pastor.
Stepping up to share information at the evening workshop was Pathway Lending that offers low-interest energy loans for nonprofits and small businesses, Appalachian Solar Finance Fund that helps qualifying coal-impacted counties receive solar support, Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light that supports congregations in reducing energy usage, and Brugmansia Ministries, whose executive director, Josh Richardson, shared in a video message about renewable solar energy.
“I see an act of vital capacity building that will help our community survive the challenges of climate change. I see a world where we can produce enough electricity in difficult moments to make sure the vulnerable members among us get what they need,” Richardson said.
In both Oak Ridge and Morristown, Abouelata is spreading the word about questions to ask before considering solar, how to be sure it fits your organization’s needs, and how the process potentially works to save money.
If you’d like an educational workshop on solar for nonprofits or solar for small business, just let us know at the contact email below.
Anne Brock is marketing coordinator for Solar Alliance. She can be reached at: 865-221-8349 or abrock@solaralliance.com
Please join Knoxville Area Interfaith Power and Light for a virtual climate academy about electric vehicles. Kent Minault, Political Chair of the Harvey Broome Group and Chair of the Transportation Committee of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, will provide loads of information about:
Questions will be welcomed.
Questions about the workshop? Contact Pam Hindle at pamela.hindle9247@gmail.com
Faith Climate Action Week is ten days in April during Earth Month when IPL congregations focus on how we can all take action to protect our climate. This events-based program encourages all faith groups to discuss the spiritual side of climate change at services, while also pushing for greater support from local and national policymakers. At FaithClimateActionWeek.org, groups have access to downloadable sermons, postcards and other resources. Watch the 2023 promo video below:
