The VT Interfaith Power and Light March newsletter is as follows:
GREEN MOUNTAINS, BLUE WATER:
Earth Care News from Vermont Interfaith Power and Light (VTIPL)
March 2014
SUPPORT STANDARDS for CARBON POLLUTION
The Environment Protection Agency has proposed first-ever
standards for carbon pollution from new power plants. Send a
message to EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, to support
these standards by clicking on the link below. The deadline
for comments has been extended to May 9. Here’s the link: https://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50836/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9402
LOW INCOME WEATHERIZATION: Support Needed
This program provides funds for weatherizing homes of low
income families which helps lower their heating bills. In the
Vermont House, representatives are now making decisions
about the program. Extra funding provided in past years has
been cut. Urge your representative to support raising the gross
receipts tax (a tax on fuels) so this program can be fully funded.
Find your representative’s contact information here: www.leg.state.vt.us/House01.cfm
UPDATE ON NET METERING BILL
On Friday, the VT Senate voted unanimously in support of
H. 702 – An Act Relating to Self-Generation and Net Metering.
By making needed changes to the small-scale renewable energy
development program, the bill once again makes it possible for
homeowners and communities to go solar. It will now go back
to the House (but isn’t expected to have problems), then on to
the Governor to be signed into law. Let’s thank our legislators!
VERMONTIVATE! LAUNCHES on MARCH 21
This award-winning online community sustainability game
begins Friday, March 21. It’s not only fun, but also inform-
ative and a great motivator to take action. At the end, the
winning community gets a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream party! The
website has been redesigned and improved. Vermontivate!
runs from March 21 through May 3. Check it out and sign
up to play at: www.vermontivate.com/2014/
SUSTAINABLE LIVING EXPO: Middlebury, March 29
This Expo is at Middlebury Union High School, 73 Charles Ave.,
on Sat., Mar. 29 from 9 – 4 with Sat., Apr. 12 for the snow date.
The Expo features workshops, exhibits, and other events that
promote sustainable living. Environmental Champion Kathryn
Blume is the Keynote Speaker. Learn more at https://acornvt.org/sle2014/
ENERGY FAIR: Waterbury, April 4
Waterbury LEAP (the town energy committee) has been
sponsoring this event annually for eight years. It will be from
9 – 3 on Apr. 4 at Crossett Brook Middle School in Duxbury,
and has exhibits and break-out sessions on many energy topics.
Find out more at: www.waterburyleap.org/events.php
ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH has Space for Rent
Creation care is an important part of this church’s mission.
They are steadily reducing their carbon emissions and footprint,
and will soon reach a 50% carbon reduction (compared to 2005).
Their goal is an 80% reduction by 2020. A childcare center
that used to rent part of the building moved after outgrowing
the space. The church now seeks a mission-focused occupant
for the 1650 sq. ft. of available space. The church’s 6.5 forested
acres are east of Shelburne Rd. in South Burlington. The church
is seeking expressions of interest to rent their available space
for purposes in alignment with their mission of caring for God’s
creation, serving people in need, and respecting differences.
They have a request for information prepared with details
about the available space, the church, and its mission. Receive
it by contacting Elizabeth Wirls: church.office@alcvt.org or
call 802-862-8866.
QUAKERS for CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION
In this paper, Quakers are calling on people of all faiths to take
action by meeting and conversing with their congressional
representatives, asking them questions about climate change
including: “Will you acknowledge that climate disruption is
human-induced, already happening, and a grave threat to both
present and future generations? Will you take a leadership role
and call upon your peers to join a public, bipartisan, declaration
of concern about climate disruption and the need for congres-
sional action?” When people of faith have these meetings in
districts all across the country, it will help create an “authentic
political and moral will for congressional solutions to climate
disruption.” Continuing these meetings throughout the election
season will help to make this an important voting issue and to
generate the political will to which elected representatives
will respond so action on climate disruption will happen.
Read it here: https://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2014/02/27/quakers-for-climate-change/31100
SPEAK OUT on the KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE: Op-Ed
Read VTIPL Coordinator Betsy Hardy’s op-ed about the pipe-
line which was in the Burlington Free Press:
www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014302130010
The time period for sending comments about the pipeline to
the Administration has ended, but people can still voice their
opposition through action.
REJECT AND PROTECT: Action Against Keystone XL
350.org is organizing this April 27 action in Washington D.C.
to speak out against the Keystone XL pipeline. Read about it
and sign up here: https://350.org/announcing-reject-and-protect-to-stop-keystone-xl/
BILL MCKIBBEN SPEAKS on KXL on MOYERS & CO.
Watch the interview: https://billmoyers.com/episode/bill-mckibben-to-obama-say-no-to-big-oil/
VTIPL educates people of faith and spirit about the climate
crisis and actions to care for Earth. Donate to support VTIPL.
Courtesy of:
Vermont Interfaith Power and Light
P.O. Box 209, Richmond, VT 05477
info@vtipl.org802-434-3397 www.vtipl.org