Mayor Allan Fung from Cranston challenging Town Administrator Paulette Hamilton from North Smithfield to which town will win the Rhode Island Energy Challenge.
Rev. Anitta Schell-Lambert, head of RI Interfaith Power & Light, holding up her National Grid Energy Report at the launch of the Rhode Island Energy Challenge. Read her full speech here.
HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE?
RHODE ISLAND ENERGY CHALLENGE:
FIND YOUR FOUR!
LAUNCH
May 29, 2013, Roger Williams Casino Park
Cranston, RI
The Rev. Dr. Anita Schell-Lambert, President
Rhode Island Interfaith Power & Light
Rector, Emmanuel (Episcopal) Church
Newport, RI
The world. Our world. God’s world. It is a fragile place. It has always been so. What is changing is that within the hearts of its people a space is being created where we may discover our own role in caring for this world and especially for those inhabitants for whom fragility is a way of life. Here is how that critical change is happening at RI Interfaith Power & Light.
RI Interfaith Power & Light is part of the parent organization The Regeneration Project that includes a national network of more than 14,000 congregations with affiliated programs in 40 states. The mission of Interfaith Power & Light (RIPL) is “a religious response to global warming.” Since our founding by Howard Brown in 2007, RI IPL has grown into a network of Rhode Island congregations and religious institutions who are committed to a religious response to global warming. We believe in the moral responsibility all residents have to preserve the planet as stewards of creation.
RI IPL is honored to be a part of Smart Power’s Find Your Four launch this morning in Cranston. What we do and say at the local community level can have profound effect at a national level, from the legislature we advocate and enact, to the prayers we offer, to the energy choices we make. The choice is before us: to care for the Earth or to participate in the destruction of ourselves and the diversity of life.
RI IPL is committed to joining the Challenge, and plans to engage our congregations in friendly competitions to help congregants reduce energy use and track their savings to understand the energy and environmental impact of their actions. At RI IPL we have implemented programs on reducing energy use as one of the most important and effective ways to reducing our individual carbon footprints. Already at RI IPL, by receiving RISE Engineering Energy Audits, and following their recommendations, we have worked with National Grid to assist our congregations and their members in reducing energy consumption in their houses of worship. We are excited that we can now bring the opportunity to save even more energy to members of our congregations. Some of us even carry with us at all times our National Grid “Home Energy Report.” I am currently #11 in my neighborhood grouping of 100. I intend to be #1! This friendly competition drives us all to be better stewards of this fragile earth, our island home.
Toward the end of her career, Helen Keller was speaking at a Midwestern college when a student asked Keller, who was blind and deaf from early childhood, “Miss Keller, is there anything that could have been worse than losing your sight?” Helen Keller replied: “Yes, I could have lost my vision.”[1]
May such vision be our inspiration to make our collective voices heard in our religious communities, in our courts and government, in our schools and in our workplaces, in our local businesses, in short, in all that we hold near and dear for the future of this planet. The sense of how blessed we are by the life we share in this amazing universe is a reality that we must never lose sight of. Each of us, individually and collectively, has an invaluable role to play in the healing of our world. Each has distinctive gifts to share. The future of all life, including our own, depends on our vital gifts, our clear vision and our mindful steps. Find Your Four is one such big mindful step. Please join me in Finding Your Four! Thank you.
[1]Bill Moyers, “Discovering What Democracy Means,” http://www. TomPaine.com (accessed February 12, 2007).
Ocean State Attorney will lead The Rhode Island Energy Challenge
Providence, RI: SmartPower, the nation’s leading non-profit marketing firm dedicated to promoting clean energy and energy efficiency today announced the hire of Matthew Ray, Esq as their Rhode Island Outreach Coordinator.
“We’re excited to have Matt join the SmartPower team,” said Brian F. Keane, President of SmartPower. “Matt brings local knowledge, community organizing expertise, strong problem solving and negotiating skills, as well as event planning and volunteer recruitment experience to the SmartPower team. Plus he’s just a great guy to work with! We’re lucky to have him!”
Matt began his campaign experience while in college at UNLV, where he worked on the U.S. Senate campaign for President Jimmy Carter’s son Jack. Upon graduation, Matt returned to Rhode Island and enrolled at Roger Williams University School of Law. While in law school, Matt worked for the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office as well as several Providence law firms.
During this past election cycle, Matt was Deputy Organizer for Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s re-election campaign where he was instrumental in community outreach and event planning.
Matt is an attorney licensed to practice in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Federal Court. Matt is truly happiest bringing his skills to the clean energy sector where he is committed to making a positive impact as SmartPower’s Community Outreach Manager for the Rhode Island Energy Challenge. This campaign is a partnership with National Grid to help Rhode Islanders reduce energy use.
“Rhode Island residents have a chance to lead the nation in energy efficiency,” said Ray. “I consider myself lucky to be a part of this exciting campaign for Rhode Island and our energy future!”
Solar becomes single largest source of new grid capacity in the USA -
Washington DC (SPX) Apr 16, 2013 - For the first time, solar energy accounted for all new utility electricity generation capacity added to the U.S. grid last month, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC’s) Mar
Very often there are complaints that wind power negatively effects the health of those living around the wind power plants. According to EcoWatch, this viewpoint could be fabricated by opponents of wind power.
“With the costs of renewable energy coming down, and the technology improving, more and more research shows that switching from fossil fuels to clean energy is feasible.”
-David Suzuki of EcoWatch
Congratulations to American University for making the Princeton Review’s 2013 Green College Honor Roll! American University is living up to it’s motto, “the American dream is green!” by carrying out the implementation of zero waste, sustainable purchasing, and green building policies. More than 25 buildings on campus are participating in a LEED Volume Existing Building certification project. On top of that, AU installed more than 2,150 solar photovoltaic panels on six American University buildings, resulting in the largest solar power system in the District of Columbia. Way to go AU!
http://www.princetonreview.com/green-honor-roll.aspx
Iceland produces 100 percent of its electricity from renewables compared to the U.S. at 13 percent. Check out the graphic comparison on the New York Times website: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/03/24/sunday-review/how-much-electricity-comes-from-renewable-sources.html?smid=fb-share&_r=4&?cid=social-facebook-ww14&
If you follow us on our Tumblr make sure you follow us on Facebook as well to get all of the updates!
https://www.facebook.com/TheNewEnglandSolarChallenge?ref=tn_tnmn
Stay up to date on your Earth Month activities with the Cherry Blossom Festival! This year, Union Station in Washington, D.C. is hosting Earth Month 2013 from April 1 through April 30. Earth Month will feature a film festival, a farmers’ market, alternative energy demonstrations, a green fashion show and a science fair with local schools!
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/2013/01/21/earth-month-at-union-station-washington-d-c/