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2022 Year End Reflection
Earlier this year, I was mistaken for someone famous.
A restaurant worker approached me as I waited for lunch: “I just want you to know… I’m such a huge fan," she said, looking at my very intensely. "I love your work."
For a split second there, I sure did think: “Whoa! Michigan IPL is so much higher profile than I realized! How amazing that our good work is being seen by the public and that faithful climate action is on their radar…”
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Look at our beautiful Board!
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Leah Wiste published General Motors is transitioning too slowly to electric vehicles – and at the cost of public health in Blog 2022-09-29 17:02:02 -0400
General Motors is transitioning too slowly to electric vehicles – and at the cost of public health
In my hometown of Detroit, everything revolves around the automotive industry—the steel mills, the oil refinery, the plants that create the plastics and the parts to build our cars. Dubbed the "Motor City," the auto industry is woven into Detroit, for better – and for worse – to power American-made automobiles.
Raised as a lifelong Detroiter from zip code 48217, my roots connect back to the auto industry, too. Like many in my community, I worked in the auto industry as a tenured worker at General Motors (GM) for over 15 years.
Unbeknownst to me, as I played my small part in GM's success, my health was deteriorating both physically and mentally.
The dirty, gas-powered cars and trucks popularized by companies like GM pollute our air and greatly contribute to our growing climate crisis. In the United States, the transportation industry is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, so it comes as no surprise that 48217 is the most toxic zip code in Michigan. Air pollution is not only a contributing factor to climate change; it is a national public health concern.
When I left GM, I didn't set out to be an environmental advocate. I had been earning a middle-class living, but despite my experience and years of work, at the time, there was little opportunity to grow as a Black woman in the auto industry. I had to continue working in the plants, and eventually I was forced to leave because of my health.
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3 Energy Efficiency Steps for Your Congregation
Don't wait to access energy savings and efficiency options for your house of worship! Steps you take today will have benefit for your congregation and creation tomorrow!
Top 3 steps to move forward with energy efficiency
- Lighting projects pay for themselves in a year or two and result in huge savings.
- Weatherization and air sealing projects are easy to implement and can reduce heating costs 10 to 25 percent.
- HVAC projects take planning and an investment, but result in long term benefits.
3 ways to save on project costs
1. Utility programs offer free energy assessments, rebates and incentives on projects and instant discounts on qualified purchases.
In Michigan, because of state energy legislation, our utilities are required to help their customers reduce their energy waste. That's why there are several ways to get discounts and rebates on energy saving projects. Connect with your utility provider for information on free energy assessments, rebates and incentives on projects and instant discounts on qualified purchases. Connect with Consumers Energy, DTE, Upper Peninsula Power Company, Alpena Power Company, Indiana Michigan Power.
University Lutheran Church in East Lansing reduced its electricity usage over 40%. These efforts saved the church $6,000 in 2019 alone. Learn more and see slides from the ULC team as they share about this journey, including installing solar.
Rebates with their utility:1. covered 50-75% of the cost of upgrading the interior lighting throughout the building2. replaced their parking lot lighting for just $1,000 on a job for which a contractor quoted them $25,0003. covered $3,000 of the church's $3,600 annual boiler maintenance2. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) can provide you with 30% or more back on specific project costs through the direct pay program.
Included in the IRA, are clean energy tax credits for:
- Solar projects - See https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5817g.pdf for details.
- Back up battery storage - It does not need to be connected to solar.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5817g.pdf for details. - Electric Vehicle charging stations - Under the section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit,
but only for low-income and non-urban locations - Heat Pumps - a ground source or geothermal heat pump is eligible under the section 48 Investment Tax
Credit. - Weatherization such as insulation - May be eligible as part of a more comprehensive energy efficiency retrofit
of a building under the 179D deduction. See details here.
The Lord of Lord's Christian Church arranged for the purchase and installation of a 13.91-kilowatt ground-mounted solar panel system, a project that cost $31,150. The Inflation Reduction Act’s incentives will provide a direct pay refund of 30% of those costs. Each congregation should speak with their accounting professional when applying for Direct Pay, especially when considering inclusion of roof or other costs. Learn about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and how Direct Pay can help your congregation to recoup efficiency related expenses.
3. Denominational funding is often provided at low rates for building upgrades and maintenance.
Denominations vary greatly in how they approach supporting individual churches needs for building upkeep and efficiency. Some are well equipped to offer grants or low interest loans for projects. Take a moment to explore what options are available to your house of worship.
St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Detroit's diocese was very open to providing funding for a window project that they otherwise would not have been able to do. As a result, the church has been better equipped to create revenue by renting space with an impoved building envelope. Congregations without denominational affiliation or assistance may want to take advantage of some low interest rate options with Michigan Saves. Michigan Saves is all in on clean energy—efficiency, renewables, diversification, carbon reduction—you name it. For congregations that find those improvements are too costly, Michigan Saves is there to help. Michigan Saves partners with DTE, Consumers Energy, and SEMCO to get you the lowest interest rates out there for your efficiency projects. Qualifying commercial and municipal customers could receive as low as 0% APR for eligible improvements, like commercial building insulation, HVAC systems, and lighting. Check if your project qualifies!
Our recommendations for houses of worship working toward efficiency updates:
- Take action today. Don't wait for grant funds that may not be provided, to make building changes that will benefit your congregation and the environment immediately.
- Get at least 2 or 3 quotes from qualified contractors. You can find contractors on your utility websites or check Michigan Saves contractor search tool.
- Plan to do the work yourself? Connect with your utility provider to access discounts and rebates on materials for your project.
- Learn about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Know how to apply and what projects are covered.
- Go on a treasure hunt! Use this handy informational tool to learn all of the options for savings at your house of worship.
Education and Inspiration for efficiency 1,2,3's
Watch our Energy Stewardship Webinar In this webinar, you will learn:
- where to start in your energy saving journey
- how to access discounts and rebates offered by your utility
- of inspiring examples of faith communities who have put faith into action with energy stewardship
Check out other past webinars:
- How Royal Oak First United Methodist Church renovated their historic building for energy efficiency and solar
- How Victorious Believers Ministries (Saginaw) used Consumers Energy rebates to upgrade their parking lot lighting and in the gymnasium with high-efficiency LEDs and how they plan to upgrade the lighting in the sanctuary.
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2021 Year End Reflection
As 2021 draws to a close, I'm writing this to share with you where our issues stand and what I believe our movement of people of faith and conscience for climate justice must do next.
The possibility of a world where all beings can thrive has taken some big hits recently.
The agreement coming out of COP 26—November’s global climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland—has been called a “death sentence” for the poorest people on our planet. Our nation’s most ambitious investment in climate and communities to date, the Build Back Better Act, is now stalled in the Senate. Meanwhile, earlier this fall, a military budget that dwarfs any proposed climate spending was rubber stamped with bipartisan support and without fanfare.
Thousands of starlings move together as one before resting for the night. Scientists hypothesize that they may do this to confuse predators and minimize individual risk.
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Energy Savings at Haven House Mean Helping More Families
At Haven House, every dollar saved on utilities can be put toward sheltering families and helping them on their paths toward stable homes.
Founded in 1983, Haven House’s emergency shelter facility was built in the 1950s, which meant there were a lot of opportunities to improve improve comfort and efficiency and lower operating costs.
If we can save money on our electric bill, then we can spend that money on helping our clients with moving costs.
Representatives from Michigan IPL, the Islamic Center of East Lansing, Haslett Community Church, and University Lutheran Church present Haven House with a donation of $5,500 to be used toward energy improvements.
With a $5,500 donation from Haslett Community Church, University Lutheran Church, the Islamic Center of East Lansing, and Michigan IPL's Carbon Fund, Haven House made energy upgrades to its facility. They upgraded the lights in their emergency shelter to LEDs, installed energy efficient air conditioning, new windows, and additional insulation.
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Leah Wiste published Rebates on Lighting Put Energy Savings Within Reach for Saginaw Church 2021-10-06 13:16:14 -0400
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Leah Wiste published A Rabbi's Reflection on Being an Eco Chaplain in Blog 2021-10-04 12:48:12 -0400
A Rabbi's Reflection on Being an Eco Chaplain
I had never thought in depth about my relationship with nature or anything having to do with the environment until the summer of 2013.
At the time, I had just finished my second year of Rabbinic School and was spending the summer working as a Young Adult Interfaith Coordinator at the Chautauqua Institution, an education and arts community in southwestern New York state. Each week, we heard from speakers from around the country, who addressed themes from various religious and scientific perspectives. From clergy and scientists, we learned the creation stories of different cultures and about our roles at this point in the Universe’s history.
One idea changed the trajectory of my life: humanity’s resourcefulness, creativity, and wisdom have not only brought unimaginable blessings to the world, but these same strengths have made us so destructive to other species and our very own habitat that we are unleashing a global extinction.
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Cultivating Community
At Sunnyside UMC, garden manager Rachelle Yeaman tells the story of the Growing Community Garden, a collaboration with Fresh Fire AME Church, as tour-goers gather under the welcome shade of a centrally located maple tree.
Recognizing that, in work at the intersection of racial and environmental justice, trusting and mutually beneficial relationships are key, Hope for Creation (MIIPL’s southwest Michigan affiliate) is building connections around shared interests in working the soil.
With the support of generous grants from the Congregation of St. Joseph and the Mesara Family Foundation, we are engaging master gardeners and other volunteers in our member congregations to develop partnerships in neighborhoods facing food insecurity, with the twin goals of expanding capacity to produce healthy food and safe neighborhoods and of building lasting healing relationships between people of faith from diverse communities. Our focus in 2021 is supporting collaboration in neighborhoods that are environmental hot-spots in Kalamazoo and fostering connections between established and emerging gardening efforts.
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Capital Area Chapter
What is our response, as people from faith communities, to the challenges of climate change and racial injustice? Individually, our houses of worship have already begun to highlight a path to a renewable future. Together, we can do much more!
Members of congregations from the Lansing area are joining together to promote transformative climate action in our community.
In 2022, the Lansing Area Chapter raised funds for a solar installation at the South Side Community Coalition. The array was installed in the spring and celebrated on Earth Day! Read more about that project here.
In 2023, the group is raising money to fund the installation of a solar array for an all-electric home in a new affordable housing development not far from the South Side Community Coalition.
The Capital Area Chapter's efforts currently involve members from the Presbyterian Church of Okemos, Haslett Community Church UCC, Edgewood United Church (E. Lansing), the Islamic Center of East Lansing, First Presbyterian Church of Lansing, Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing, All Saints Episcopal Church (E. Lansing), University Lutheran Church (E. Lansing), Kehillat Israel (Lansing), Community of Christ (Lansing), People's Church (E. Lansing), Faith Lutheran (Okemos), and Charlotte Congregational UCC.
To make a donation to the Lansing Home Solar Project.
Contact David Arnosti ([email protected]) to join the email list and get involved!
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Leah Wiste published We Need the Strongest Clean Car Standards to Meet this Moment in Blog 2021-08-26 11:06:06 -0400
We Need the Strongest Possible Clean Car Standards to Meet this Moment
Today, I spoke at an EPA hearing about the draft Clean Car standards proposed earlier this month. This is my testimony:
My name is Leah Wiste, and I’m the Executive Director of Michigan Interfaith Power & Light. We work with over 300 member congregations throughout the state, which comprise thousands of people of faith and conscience committed to bold climate action and protecting our communities. Thank you for allowing me to offer testimony today.
When President Biden announced the draft tailpipe emissions standards earlier this month, Michigan Congressman Dan Kildee offered a strange kind of praise, saying “This is sort of a Goldilocks goal… Not too much, not too little. It’s just right.” But it’s clear that the time has passed for moderate, “not too much, not too little” policy.
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Cultivating Community
At Sunnyside UMC, garden manager Rachelle Yeaman tells the story of the Growing Community Garden, a collaboration with Fresh Fire AME Church, as tour-goers gather under the welcome shade of a centrally located maple tree.Recognizing that, in work at the intersection of racial and environmental justice, trusting and mutually beneficial relationships are key, Hope for Creation (MiIPL’s southwest Michigan affiliate) is building connections around shared interests in working the soil.
With the support of generous grants from the Congregation of St. Joseph and the Mesara Family Foundation, we are engaging master gardeners and other volunteers in our member congregations to develop partnerships in neighborhoods facing food insecurity, with the twin goals of expanding capacity to produce healthy food and safe neighborhoods and of building lasting healing relationships between people of faith from diverse communities. Our focus in 2021 is supporting collaboration in neighborhoods that are environmental hot-spots in Kalamazoo and fostering connections between established and emerging gardening efforts.
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Cultivating Community
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Posted by Joan Hawxhurst · July 15, 2021 9:49 AM
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Energy Stewardship
Michigan Interfaith Power & Light is helping congregations who have already received a free Energy Analysis take the next steps in your energy stewardship journey:
Earn $
Save $
with House of Worship Rewards
with Discounts and Rebates
Your congregation can earn up to $5,000 by helping members and friends save energy at home with a free Home Energy Analysis offered by Consumers Energy. Residents receive free installation of energy saving upgrades.
St. Margaret of Scotland Church in St. Clair Shores earned $2,000 by helping members and friends save energy at home.
Because of state energy legislation, discounts and rebates on energy-saving projects-- from lighting and refrigeration to HVAC-- are available through Consumers Energy. These can cover up to 100% of the cost of some projects.
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Saginaw got 60% off new lighting. This not only cuts energy bills, it also makes the building feel fresh and bright.
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Leah Wiste published Send a Faith Delegation to the Treaty People Gathering 2021-05-20 09:16:45 -0400
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Evict Enbridge: Events This Week!
Last fall, Gov. Whitmer ordered Enbridge to shut down Line 5-- the 68-year-old pipeline that sits on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac-- by May 12.Read more
Enbridge, the company responsible for the pipeline that burst in 2010 causing nearly 1,000,000 gallons of tar sands crude to flow into the Kalamazoo River, has vowed to continue operations in defiance of Whitmer's order.
If you, like us, believe that corporations have no business risking our Great Lakes and our last shot at a livable climate for the sake of making a buck, I hope you'll find a way to plug in to this week's outdoor and socially-distanced events in Detroit, Lansing and Mackinaw City!
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Southwest MI Chapter
Hope for Creation made and distributed
hundreds of Earth Day kits for Kids in 2020.Hope for Creation volunteers at the City of Kalamazoo's first polystyrene recycling drop-off in 2021. Michigan IPL has a Southwest MI regional chapter: Hope for Creation! Hope for Creation is a grassroots inter-religious group working to encourage and support faith-based action on climate change in greater Kalamazoo.
Getting involved in Hope for Creation connects you (and your congregation or faith-based organization) with others across the region and is a symbol of your congregation’s commitment to Earth stewardship and climate action.
What are the benefits of being part of Hope for Creation?- Information and support for reducing your carbon footprint through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainable practices.
- Connections with technical experts, peer communities, and relevant programs.
- Guidance on starting and maintaining a congregational Green/Justice Team.
- Up-to-date information about issues that affect the health of our communities and our common home, along with opportunities to advocate for systemic change.
- Avenues to celebrate and promote the ways your house of worship has sustained the earth and to contribute to shared local conservation and sustainability efforts.
- Opportunities to work with, worship with, and advocate alongside other people of faith who are champions of Earth stewardship in their congregations and in the public sphere.
To get involved with Hope for Creation, email [email protected].
You can also like Hope for Creation on Facebook and check out their YouTube channel.