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To view other Features, please click here The following is taken from the December 10, 2001 TREES forum with Sally Bingham, Co-Director of California Interfaith Power and Light. It not only informs you about what one religious-based organization is doing to address the problems of global warming, and general pollution and environmental degradation caused by our dependency upon non-sustainable energy resources, but it also gives some insights into the current problem. At the end of the summary, there are links to several web-sites where you can: learn more, get involved, contact your representatives and senators, and perform an energy audit at home or work. History
of Episcopal Power and Light (EP&L) The influence of CAP&L has moved beyond the borders of California and into other states. Sally and Steve have been instrumental in starting similar programs in such places as Tennessee and Texas. Addressing
Issues of Global Warming in California and Beyond Power
Plants in the Bay Area and Effects Around the World This raises an important eco-justice issue. Sally pointed out that there are no power plants in Marin County. Likewise, statistically speaking, the majority of power plants are located in poorer communities. These communities often are communities of ethnic minorities as well. Is this a case of environmental racism, or just a case of coincidence? Likewise, on a global scale it will be nations and locations, such as Tuvalo, that are in the "2/3" world that will be affected by global warming first, and most of these nations often don't have insurance companies or FEMA to bail them out of large-scale disasters, thus exacerbating the problem; yet, the US, part of the "1/3" world, represents 5% of the earths human population and is responsible for 25% of the earths green-house gas emissions. Both at home and abroad, energy production and the pollution associated with it is both an environmental problem AND an issue of social justice what I will call an issue of eco-justice. Hence the even greater urgency for a response from religious communities. What
Can You Do To Respond In California? You might be asking, "What happened to the energy crisis?" Well, a large part of the crises was abated through conservation efforts on the part of Californians. Last summer, Californians conserved 15% of the energy previously used during the same time-periods of previous years. Conservation is not only the key to conserving energy, it is key in abating the amount of green-house gasses that are emitted every year. Though there are not green energy wholesale options available in California at the moment, there are several things that you can do as an individual and that communities and institutions can do. Once such thing is conservation. Through the use of compact-florescent bulbs, you can save an enormous amount of energy. Compact fluorescents use only º of the energy used by regular, incandescent light bulbs. Also, caulking windowsills, placing a blanket around your water heater, and other, easy tips such as these will help conserve energy and save you money. Another thing to do is to get involved politically. There is a Bill going to the CA legislation session in February that will urge CA lawmakers to make a commitment to move California's Renewable energy sources from 11% to 20% of overall energy used. By going to the CAP&L web-site (found below), you can print out a form that will allow you to show your support for "green energy" in the Bay Area. Likewise, you can sign up as an individual, or as a group (ie, your religious community, or your SCHOOL could sign up in support of "green energy".) All of these forms will be taken to the capital in Sacramento in February. It is also important to note all of the rebates that are offered by PG&E and the state of California for installing solar panels on your home, business, or institution. Through all of these rebates you can get up to 50% of the initial costs of installation paid for. And, in just a matter of years, the solar panels will pay for themselves! You can find more information out about these programs by following the links in the resource section below. Another way to get involved, perhaps directly with CAP&L is to encourage the youth-groups at your churches, synagogues, mosques, or temples to sell compact-florescent bulbs instead of candy. CAP&L is setting up these types of programs with girl scouts, boy scouts, public schools groups, and other groups. So, the youth group can raise money and help conserve energy at the same time. Just a couple of success stories. As many of you probably know, the county and city of San Francisco voted to install solar panels on all of the municipal buildings a couple of weeks ago. This not only shows our support of the global Kyoto efforts, despite what the US government decides to do, it shows that change can happen. Likewise, in Sacramento, there are a number of churches who took advantage of SMUDs offer to help pay for solar panels on their roofs. Now, these churches not only have NO electricity bill, but they generate more energy than they need and this energy is sent back into the grid for others to use. Finally, a good way to get involved is to be an advocate for those who live in places where coal and other harmful power plants are built. I have no direct ideas here, but perhaps some of you do. It is important to end these types of injustices. The best I can offer is to let your senators and representatives know how you feel about this issue. To be informed about when and where power plants are going to be built. To be informed about the communities in which power plants exist, and to begin moving toward sustainable energy practices via conservation and via utilizing "green" energy resources. Sustainable Energy Consumption Resources Energy
Efficient Builders Association www.regenerationproject.org Also, in the declaration of the 2001 World Conference Against Racism, Environmental Racism is recognized as: Recognizing environmental racism as a form of racial discrimination which refers to exploitation and depletion of natural resources and any environmental policy, practice, action or inaction that intentionally or unintentionally, disproportionately harms the health, eco systems, and livelihood of nations, communities, groups, or individuals, and in particular the poor. (Click here to view the whole document) For
more information aboutt environmental racism: Free
Compact Florescent Bulbs Roof
Requirements for Solar Energy Rebates
for Reduction in Consumption of Energy in the State of CA www.energy.ca.gov/greengrid/index.html California Energy Commission Energy Buy-down Program (1-800-555-7794); this provides $4.50 buydown for each watt of solar installed up to 50% of the renewable system purchase price. Cash Grants for up to 75% of a total energy project: 1-800-555-7794, www.energy.ca.gov/peakload. PG&E Energy Center: 415-973-7268 Energy
Audits and Assessment Tools Free on-line audit software: http://wakeup.to/conservation The Center for Environmental Citizenship: www.envirocitizen.org General
Information Information
on Climate Change To view other Features, please click here. TREES
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