Washington Interfaith Power & Light
An interfaith religious response to global warming
Earth Ministry’s Washington Interfaith Power & Light (WAIPL) project organizes an interfaith religious response to global warming. WAIPL is part of a national Interfaith Power & Light movement that is 38 states strong and growing. It is led by Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and the faithful from other traditions across Washington State.
WAIPL works to protect creation and safeguard society’s most vulnerable by providing education about global warming, helping individuals and congregations reduce their carbon footprints, and advocating for sustainable energy. To accomplish this mission, we:
- Speak and lead workshops on climate change for faith
communities across the state
- Advise on ways to improve energy efficiency in homes,
workplaces and houses of worship
- Assist in finding sources of green power and discounts on
energy saving products
- Develop educational & spiritual resources for religious communities
- Provide regular updates on state and national climate issues
- Offer workshops, trainings, and advocacy opportunities for
people of faith to weigh in on important climate and energy policies
Individuals and congregations of all faith traditions are welcome to become members of Washington Interfaith Power & Light. Faith communities seeking membership in WAIPL also sign a "Congregational Covenant" pledging to educate and engage members on energy and climate issues and commit to faithful stewardship of their energy resources.
We’re excited about Washington Interfaith Power & Light and looking forward to the coming year. There is much work to do, but together we can make a difference. Please join us!
Recent News
Senate Stalls on Climate and Clean Energy Solutions
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released a narrow oil spill response bill yesterday that incorporates some modest energy provisions. But the Senate will fail to tackle comprehensive climate and energy legislation before the August recess, missing an historic opportunity to launch America’s transition to a new and brighter energy future. Earth Ministry/WAIPL Executive Director LeeAnne Beres joined Congressman Jay Inslee and members of the business and veteran communities in a press conference speaking to the continued need for comprehensive national climate legislation this year. Click above to read LeeAnne’s full statement following the press release.
Washington Interfaith Power & Light Director Travels to Turkey for Faith and Cultural Exchange
Jessie Dye of Washington Interfaith Power & Light was fortunate to travel to Turkey in June as the guest of the Seattle-based Acacia Foundation. The Acacia Foundation is an organization of Muslim business leaders and educators who have been influenced by the Turkish Sufi Muslim Imam and great public intellectual, Fethulla Gulen. Jessie and five other educators, business and policy leaders travelled in Istanbul and Western Turkey and met with teachers, scientists, and civic leaders who put Gulen’s ideas into practice. At the heart of Sufi tradition and Gulen’s work is belief that faith and spiritual illumination manifest in love of humanity and of all creation. With its emphasis on education, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue, the preaching of Imam Gulen identifies a path in which religious values can be combined successfully with living in the modern world. Jessie hopes that this is only the beginning of a long association with Gulen’s organizations worldwide.
Faith, Climate, and Coal
Washington Interfaith Power & Light has joined with several Washington State partners to transition the dirty and toxic TransAlta Coal Plant in Centralia by 2015. In conjunction with Cool Moms, Physicians for Social Responsibly, Earth Justice and the NW Energy Coalition, WAIPL is committed to setting strong limits on the carbon dioxide, mercury, and nitrous oxide that the Centralia plant produces. The national IPL campaign has three goals: limiting construction of new coal plants, keeping coal in the ground, and transitioning the dirtiest existing plants, of which the TransAlta plant is one. The company and its profits are Canadian, but the toxic waste and glacier-melting carbon stays in Washington. WAIPL is committed to moving Washington State beyond coal by 2015. It’s a good goal and one that we can achieve for the sake of Earth’s climate and God’s creation.
Interfaith Power & Light Conference and Lobby Day
LeeAnne Beres and Jessie Dye traveled to Washington, DC the first week in May for the national Interfaith Power & Light conference and lobby day. Nearly 70 religious leaders from 38 state affiliates from around the country participated, and Earth Ministry’s Washington Interfaith Power & Light project was well represented. Jessie co-led a conference workshop on building a nationwide coordinated campaign on coal, and she and LeeAnne both led lobbying breakout sessions to help prepare state leaders for visits to Capitol Hill. On lobby day, LeeAnne and Jessie met with seven Washington State congressional offices regarding Kerry-Lieberman climate legislation and the Home Star energy retrofit bill which provides homeowners with incentives for energy efficiency improvements – the latter of which passed while they were still in DC!
Seattle Climate Rally & EPA Hearing
On May 21, 2009, the EPA came to Seattle to receive public comment on their findings that greenhouses gases pose a threat to human health. Three religious leaders testified at the EPA hearing in the morning and at noon 30 religious leaders showed their support for action on climate change in front of a crowd of 2,000 people - including many Earth Ministry/WAIPL members! Click above for photos, testimony, and media clips!
Resources
The Cry of Creation: A Call for Climate Justice - an interfaith study guide on global warming
ShopIPL - Receive discounts on energy efficient products!
Cool Congregations Calculator - A carbon footprint calculator specifically for congregations
Resources from Interfaith Power & Light/The Regeneration Project (sermons, films, books, energy efficiency)
Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds ($3 for every book purchased through this webpage will be donated to WAIPL)
Order Online; Mail-In Order Form
Learn about Climate & Energy Issues
