Rev. Clara Sims: Uncertain Future for Solar Funds in New Mexico

/in , , , /by

Perhaps one of the biggest threats to clean energy and energy-efficiency programs in New Mexico is Trump’s pledge in recent months to rescind “all unspent funds” from the federal Inflation Reduction Act.

Rev, Clara Sims (left) and Rev. Kristi Koppel (St. Paul Lutheran Church)

Rev. Clara Sims, assistant executive director for Interfaith Power & Light New Mexico-El Paso, told the Santa Fe New Mexican (@thenewmexican.bsky.social) about our concern for the future of federal funding to promote solar power for faith communities in our state. “That’s certainly a concern for us in terms of looking ahead to the potential of really rolling back the money that’s available,” said Rev. Sims. 

Rev. Sims said IPL-New Mexico-El Paso has worked for decades to help faith communities in New Mexico and El Paso complete energy-efficiency audits and install solar panels but the “direct pay” provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act have prompted a rapid rise in faith communities going green.

The direct pay, or elective pay, program allows tax-exempt nonprofits and government entities to receive a payment for up to 30% of their solar installation costs the year after installation. Sims said her organization has worked with five faith groups that are in the process of using the tax credit.

“My sense is that the faith communities who maybe don’t have the same kind of budget capacity that others did in the past have been able to really push that forward in their congregations or houses of worship in the past several years,” Sims told The New Mexican.

Read full article

 

Pilgrims Protest Approval of Los Alamos Lab Transmission Line

/in , , , , , /by

Earthkeepers 360 held a  Caja del Rio Peace and Prayer Pilgrimage in Santa Fe on Friday, October 25. Participants traveled from the Santa Fe county Administration Building to the National Nuclear Security Administration Office to protest the recent approval of the Los Alamos National Lab’s transmission line.

The participants hand delivered the Caja Del Rio Coalition’s formal objection Letter and held a press conference featuring the voices of Pueblo and Hispanic leaders, local elected officials, Spiritual leaders, conservationists and other community advocates speaking up to Permanently protect the caja.

Here are some photographs, courtesy of Rev. Andrew Black

 

 

Video: Fossil Free Retirement Advocacy Info Session

/in , , , /by

American workers collectively invest trillions of dollars in their retirement funds, often through employer-sponsored 401(k) and 403(b) plans. These retirement plans, in turn, often invest heavily in fossil fuels. As people of faith and conscience, we are tasked with building a more just world – one that is in line with our moral values of protecting our most vulnerable siblings and being faithful stewards of the Earth. This leaves workers to choose between compromising their values (by investing in and profiting from harmful fossil fuel development) and compromising the security of their retirement. People of faith shouldn’t have to make that choice. Instead, faithful workers should have the right to opt into retirement funds whose investments do not violate their fundamental moral responsibilities.

Interfaith Power & Light has partnered with ClientEarth, an environmental legal advocacy organization, to work together on a unique opportunity that people of faith have to help shift financial institutions away from investing in fossil fuel projects. Fill out this questionnaire to let us know you’re interested in helping – https://forms.gle/iqwHW5hFWiUECHEN7 Learn more about this faithful advocacy opportunity here – https://interfaithpowerandlight.org/b…