The Earth Ministry/WAIPL community has been tireless in speaking out against new fossil fuel infrastructure in our state. Time and time again, the faith community has articulated our values in the face of proposed coal export terminals, increased oil-by-rail, expansion of existing fossil fuel facilities, and new fracked gas facilities. Lessening the continued use of fossil fuels in our buildings is the next step of our faithful advocacy for a more just world.
Now, we’re joining a chorus of voices asking the Washington State Building Code Council (WSBCC) to phase out fossil fuel heating in commercial and large multifamily buildings. Given that buildings are Washington’s fastest growing sector for climate pollution and we only update building energy codes every three years, this current comment period open through March 11 is very important!
Join us in supporting an energy code that requires electric heat pump technology for water and space heating in commercial and multifamily buildings. Add your name to Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s clean buildings faith community letter!
We know that continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels, especially fracked gas, is not faithful. Enduring existence of fracked gas infrastructure in buildings will increase indoor air pollution and subsequent health risks, perpetuate reliance on dirty fossil fuels, promote more fracking (often on Indigenous lands,) and exacerbate our changing climate that already weighs most heavily on those on the margins (read more here). We have a moral obligation to address historic and enduring inequalities caused by pollution, many of which are crystallized in fossil fuel infrastructure.
Our diverse religious traditions all teach us to love our neighbors, steward the Earth, and work for justice. Let’s do so by creating a future where no one’s health or land is sacrificed to heat the places where we worship, shop, or live.