TIPL: Our 2022 Story

Dear Friends,

Tennessee Interfaith Power and Light made a real difference in 2022!  We launched the Cool Congregations program to assist congregations in energy savings. We involved over 40 congregations in faith-centered Earth Week activities. We continue to be one of the leading climate advocacy groups in the state – and recently learned that such efforts contributed to Tennessee leading the nation in the reduction of carbon intensity from 2016-2020
So many great stories to share!  Help us continue this critical work in 2023

Advocacy
TIPL has historically been very active, especially in addressing the carbon footprint of TVA and in participating in Conservation Day at the Tennessee State Legislature.  Our work has had an impact:  Tennessee led the nation in the reduction of the carbon intensity of power generation during the second half of the decade, according to a September 2022 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.  Most of this reduction has been due to TVA replacing coal with less carbon intensive forms of generation. TIPL continues to be one of the  leading environmental groups encouraging TVA to continue to retire its coal-fired plants and to increase its investments in solar and wind power generation.
Other Advocacy

• TVA issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding a proposal for a gas fired power plant.We worked extensively with other environmental groups to develop substantive and specific comments on the impacts of the proposed alternatives to the current coal-fired power plant.
• We successfully advocated for appointments to the governing board of TVA which had been stalled in Congress for over a year.
• In Knoxville, we worked with local government and researchers on a heat study
• In Chattanooga, we joined with other environmental groups to successfully produce a climate action plan for the City, and we are now actively participating in implementation.

Programs
We focused on re-engaging faith groups that have been active as well as reaching out to new congregations across the state.

Faith Climate Action Week:
TIPL had a very active Faith Climate Action Week centered around Earth Day in April. We sponsored or participated in community-wide activities in Nashville, Knoxville and Clarksville, while also hosting a statewide educational webinar and postings of children and youth sharing their Earth Care hopes and concerns on Facebook.  It was exciting to have participation by 45 congregations new to the nationwide Faith Climate Action Week.

Events:
Clarksville Earth Care Celebration
Around 75 community members attended our Earth Care Celebration at the outdoor Downtown Commons on April 30. The program included music, litanies, prayer, and devotionals by youth from two local congregations – First Presbyterian and Trinity Episcopal – .

Knoxville Climate Prayer Vigil:
The Knoxville Area Chapter of Tennessee Interfaith Power and Light ( KAIPL) celebrated Faith Climate Action Week in partnership with other organizations.  Using the FCAW resources, KAIPL sponsored local participation in the Nationwide Climate Prayer in Downtown Knoxville, Noon April 22.  Participating congregations included Church of the Savior UCC, All Saints Catholic, Good Shepherd Episcopal, First Presbyterian, Battlefield Farm (aka New Harvest) and Hope Ministries.

Knoxville Children’s Bike Giveaway: 
On April 30, KAIPL co-sponsored a bike giveaway at an inner city school in Knoxville with other organizations including Kickstand and Centro Hispano.  It was quite exciting to be able see how excited the families were to receive appropriately sized bikes, obtain safety training in English or Spanish, learn a bit about bike maintenance and how to wear a helmet.  The volunteers had a great time also.

Nashville Earth Care Celebration:
Around 75 community members attended our Earth Care celebration at the Saint Catholic Parish. The program included music, litanies prayer and devotionals. Congregations represented in the program were Congregation Ohabia Sholom (Reform Jewish), Gurdwarsa Sikh Temple, Hobson United Methodist Church, Islamic Center of Nashville, Jackson Street Missionary Baptist Church, Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple, and the Wild Heart Meditation Center.

Statewide Webinar: “Climate Change and Children’s Health”
Around 40 people tuned into our statewide webinar on April 26  – “Climate Change and Children’s Health.” The two The two presenters were Carol Ziegler, a professor at Vanderbilt School of Nursing, and Vanessa Lynch, a field organizer for Moms Clean Air Force in western Pennsylvania.

Statewide Webinar:  “Spirituality from the Ground Up: 
The Knoxville Chapter organized a zoom meeting to discuss how a faith group can reflect their values through the use of their land.Dr. Rosanne Smith and Knox County Master Gardeners led a discussion about food and flower gardens as a way to reflect spiritual values.  Mike Smith described the community garden at Concord United Methodist Church and a food distribution network for excess produce.  Pastor Chris Battle described connecting people to communities via community gardens, as happens at Battlefield Farms and Gardens.  Dr. Elizabeth Hamilton described integrated pest management and how saving and celebrating Appalachian flora is a way to save birds, reduce costs, and reduce health exposure to families and pets.  Fifty six people registered and either attended the zoom or had access to the recording.

Cool Congregations

Beginning this summer, TIPL focused on assisting congregations develop and meet energy reduction and Earth care goals.  Using the nationwide Cool Congregations program, we began offering incentives and expert assistance to faith groups who undertake to reduce energy consumption, promote electric vehicle use, and other related initiatives.
initiative this summer.
Congregations can receive:

• Customized planning session and presentation to help begin the planning process for energy efficiency and climate resilience
• Evaluation of utility bills and efficacy of previous energy efficiency measures
• 2 additional consulting sessions with Brugmansia Ministries
• Continued support in enacting congregational plans from TNIPL
• Assistance in applying for the Cool Congregations Challenge
• $100 gift certificate for implementation materials

We had planned on working with 10 congregations, but I am very happy to report that the response exceeded our expectations!  One congregation has already been certified as a “ Cool Congregation” based on reductions in energy usage, another is ready to submit for certification.  In addition, about a dozen other Tennessee congregations have used the resources and programs offered by TIPL and our parent organization Interfaith Power and Light.  We have had expressions of interest by additional congregations and are looking forward to continuing this work in 2023.

Looking Forward

• Continue to broaden and strengthen our connections with and between faith communities through Faith Climate Action Week, gatherings such as Climate Academies, and support for the Cool Congregations program
• Advocate in coalition with other environmental groups on issues which impact our state and our local faith communities.
• Support each other to respond thoughtfully and spiritually to the challenges of climate change.
• Begin the work of connecting with faith groups performing similar work in the Southeast Region.