Rise at the Rio for Climate, Water, Jobs and Justice

On September 8, many communities throughout New Mexico and the Nation joined to honor and remember the waters that sustain us as they and we feel the impacts of Global Climate Disruption.  There were speakers, learning centers, and places to register to vote.  Here are some great photos of the event.

 

Congratulations to Bethany Christian Reform Church

Bethany Christian Reform Church

Congratulations to Bethany Christian Reform Church, Gallup who won a national Interfaith Power and Light first prize in the Cool Congregation challenge and will receive $1,000. They are honored for their creative solar array project and all of the outreach work they are doing for energy efficiency in their outlying churches. Thank you for all your work!!!

Workers installing solar with parishioner Rick Kruis in orange shirt.

 

St. Mark – the National IPL Cool Congregations certificate program for the cool congregations awards

St. Mark’s on the Mesa, Episcopal Church,  Albuquerque

After a 3 year process that included energy efficiency upgrades which took advantage of the NM IPL no interest loan fund, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church blessed their solar unit in November 2015 and began watching their meter as it generated energy from the sun in December.

St Mark solar groupTheir project is unique, in that they created a parish LLC and also offered some parishioner labor in creating their solar array that celebrates God’s creation and energy from the sun. Caring for creation and being a witness as the first Episcopal congregation in New Mexico to install solar were important factors in their decision. It took a lot of work, but they are so excited that they will gladly meet with any faith community to walk them through the steps. Contact anyone on their solar team: Andrew Clark  mr.andrew.clark@gmail.com; Ken Reese  reesekennethw@gmail.com,  Nick Porter  porternick@gmail.com  or Fr. Christopher McLaren  christopher@stmakrsabq.org.  Learn more at their website   http://stmarksabq.thithub.io/newenergy/