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In This Issue

Thank you for your work

Around New Mexico

Green Ideas

Action Alerts

Resources and More

Stay Connected

Water As Sacred Trust in New Mexico

Letter to Our Leaders

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New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light

June 2014 E-Notes

Blessings! It is not often that we focus on Good News. So, I would like to share some NMIPL Good News Stories and pictures that might include you!!!

St. Therese School, ABQ. Celebrates Solar Installation

Principal, Donna Illerbrun, Pastor, Fr. Vincent Chavez and an alumni bless the solar installation and a successful year-long Green-A-Thon.

The children of St. Therese School are thrilled with the new panels. Their celebration also included learning about gardening, chickens, healthy food and more. Congratualtions to all!!!

NMIPL Celebrates and Congratulates so many faith communities who sponsored presentations with Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow, other amazing educational and prayer events and work on efficiency and solar within the last couple of months. Here are some shout outs (if we missed you, please let us know!!!

Westminster Presbyterian, Gallup

Immanuel Presbyterian, ABQ

Church of the Good Shepherd, ABQ

First Unitarian, ABQ

St. Mark's, ABQ

First Unitarian, Santa Fe

St. Bede's Episcopal, Santa Fe

First Presbyterian, Santa Fe

Temple Beth Shalom, Santa Fe

Unitarian Congregation, Taos

Gratitude to the more than 50 faith leaders who signed a letter to President Obama supporting the creation of the

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Monument in Southern NM that was designated in May.

The National Interfaith Power and Light meeting in Washington, DC in May focused on sharing our stories. Which Tom Stark and Joan Brown,osf shared as they visited all the New Mexico delegation on energy issues on lobby day. Senator Whitehouse of Rho

de Island shared his story and how he speaks about climate change on the Se

nate floor each week since 2012.

ABQ City Council approves a resolution that allows for consideration of a stronger plan by PNM to decrease reliance on coal and increase renewable energy as they work with the Public Regulatory Commission on the replacementof two stacks on the San Juan Power Plant that are closing. A wonderful coalition worked on this and a resolution that passed in Santa Fe earlier in the spring. NMIPL was pleased to be part of the coalition.

Wild GRACE (Growing Relationships, Awareness, Compassion with Earth) Retreat for young people and adult mentors was an amazing experience at Ghost Ranch, Abiquii in May. Young people and adults said, "Yes. Let's do this again. It was beyond expectations." The week interwove prayer, learning about nature, gardening, canoeing, dinosaur adventures, hikes, swimming, a council of beings, campfire and cosmic surprises. Here are a few pictures.

Let us celebrate the gift of Earth and continue to work together and as always your donations make our work together possible.

Peace and good,

Joan Brown,osf

Executive Director, NMIPL

Around New Mexico

Summer Solstice Sunset Celebration

June 21, 2014

Placitas Open Space

Celebrate the 2014 Summer Solstice The Earthcare Fellowship of Las Placitas Presbyterian Church [and the Las Placitas Association] and friends. Older folks, younger folks, and all ages in between are welcome. Gather at the Open Space entrance off of Calle Cienaga at 7:30 p.m. Take the 10 minute hike over rocky terrain to the spot where we will have a short "spiritual-but-not-religious" celebration as we observe the sun drop into the "head" of Cabezon at 8:24 p.m. Please bring your own chair and water. Park closes at 9:00.

First week of August Advocacy training at churches in Espanola, Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Watch for special notices.

Caring for Creation through Conservation, Efficiency & Solar

Wednesday, Agusut 13, 7-8:30

St. Francis Episcopal Church, Rio Rancho

Presentations by pastors, faith leaders and professionals on energy efficiency, water conservation, solar financing, installation and more. Free and open to all. Other events will be held throughout the fall. RSVP jjoan@nm-ipl.org.

Watch for announcements about NMIPL's Annual Fall Meeting with Speaker and Seed Awardees!

Cool Congregations: Green Ideas

NMIPL has about $10,000 in our no-interest loan fund to assist with energy upgrades in Houses of Worship!

Action Alerts

NMIPL is gathering signatures on a petition to Governor Martinez and leaders in New Mexico to treat water as Sacred Trust. Sign on line by clicking Action.

Comments on the new EPA guidelines on Coal Fired Power Plants are being taken during the summer. Let us know if you would like postcards to gather signatures on. A joint letter with faith leaders of Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah will be circulated soon. Keep your eyes posted and please sign and pass along to faith leaders.

Resources and News

NMIPL offers various educational programs to faith communities including Water As A Sacred Trust. Contact joan@nm-ipl.org.

Wonderful video presentation on A Theology of Climate Change with Episcopal Bishop Marc Andrus of California. www.nm-ipl.org

From the National Catholic Reporter: Climate Change is a Life Issue. http://ncronline.org/blogs/eco-catholic/editorial-climate-change-churchs-no-1-pro-life-issue

New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light | 505-266-6966 | info@nm-ipl.org
| http://www.nm-ipl.org
PO Box 27162
Albuquerque, NM 87125-7162