01: Interfaith Power and Light groups are being established across the U.S., in the attempt to convince congregations to adopt “green” or renewable energy sources and warn them about global warming.
The groups are a spin-off of the Episcopal Power and Light movement started five years ago to make the Episcopal Church a zero-emissions entity by powering every house of worship with “green energy.” Founders Rev. Sally Bingham and Steve MacAusland started the IPL groups to bring the message to congregations from Catholic, Muslim, Jewish and other faiths. There are now IPL groups in several states with fairly diverse participation; the California IPL includes the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento to the Southern California Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life.
The IPL asks participating congregations to sign a covenant to support the movement’s mission, including conducting an energy audit of their buildings, contributing to a wind turbine fund, and educating congregants about global warming.
(Source: Earthlight, Spring; for more information on the IPL go to: http://www.theregenerationproject.org)