Sister Joan Brown Quoted in NCR Article

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The Climate 21 Project produced a series of memos with input from more than 150 experts on how the next president can implement a whole-of-government response to climate change beginning on Day One.

Franciscan Sr. Joan Brown, head of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light, said that course reflects the idea of integral ecology that Pope Francis described in Laudato Si’. She said it recognizes the interrelated problems that climate change involves and proposes a similarly integrated response.

“I really feel this is a good way to go,” Brown said.

The Climate 21 Project put forward recommendations for 11 federal departments and offices, including the Justice Department, State Department, the Office of Management and Budget and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Read full article, entitled “Biden to enter White House with Cabinet stocked with climate advocates,” published on Jan. 19, 2021

 

 

Public Regulatory Commission Approves 100% Clean Energy Replacement Plan  for San Juan Generating Power Plant

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New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light is grateful for good news !  The Public Regulatory Commission this week approved a replacement plan for the San Juan generating power plant of 100% renewable energy with battery storage. This effort was possible through hard work of many including a large coalition of Four Corners community and tribal organizations, social justice groups, ordinary people and many faith leaders and faith communities.

This decision is an important ethical and moral choice to care for our communities and our sacred land, water, air and future generations. In these challenging times we celebrate this decision and the years of hard work, vision and efforts to cherish all that we are given.]

Thank you to all who have written comments, testified at hearings, made phone calls, engaged in educating friends and neighbors and your faith communities over the years. Our work and ministry can only happen together and that is a joy as we pray, meditate, and work together for the Common Good.

Please thank your Public Regulatory Commissioners for their work and decision.

The plan approved by the PRC has Renewable energy investments includes: 300 megawatts of solar and 130 megawatts of battery storage in the Central Consolidated School District, 300 megawatts of battery storage in McKinley County, and 50 megawatts of solar and 20 megawatts of battery on Jicarilla Apache lands in Rio Arriba County.  All of the projects account for over $1 billion in the respective areas and will create about 1,200 multi-year construction jobs in these counties.

This plan helps the state meet the goals of the 2019 Energy Transition Act for state public utilities to reach the goal of 100% carbon-free sources by 2045 for utilities to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050.

Back in April,  a large coalition of New Mexico community, faith, tribal, and environmental advocates on April 1 welcomed the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission’s (PRC) decision to approve Public Service Company of New Mexico’s (PNM) request to abandon or exit the San Juan Generating Station and use low-interest bonds through the Energy Transition Act (ETA) to finance its remaining investment in the plant. The Commission voted unanimously to approve both the abandonment and financing orders.   Read More

Sister Joan Quoted in NCR Article

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In an article examining the progress of Laudato Si over the past five years, the the National Catholic Reporter quoted several church leaders here at home and overseas.  While some small changes have occurred as a result of the encyclical letter,  the overall verdict is that progress is stalled in part due to a lack of leadership.
“There has to be some deep-seeded shifts in the church for us to really grapple with this largest ethical and moral concern of our time. And the longer it takes us, the more we run into greater storms, greater need for emergency relief,” Sister Joan told the NCR. Read full article