tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85677785440554396292012-01-04T17:24:37.050-10:00Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.comBlogger261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-24181164411279367442012-01-04T12:54:00.031-10:002012-01-04T17:24:37.086-10:00

Although the anthropogenic basis of climate change has been the conclusion from multiple Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports, there continue to be scientists who challenge this conclusion. Some of these scientists are reputable in their own fields, and thus their criticisms carry a lot of weight for reasonable people as well as politicians who feel threatened by

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-79958076411078443242011-08-16T14:09:00.008-10:002011-08-16T14:25:00.444-10:00

On 17 September 2011, HIPL is hosting a train-the-trainers event called "Cool Congregations". You can learn more at the HIPL CC webpage, including instructions on how to register. The event will be held at Central Union church in Honolulu. This event will kick off a year-long effort by faith communities in Hawaii to reduce the energy use and carbon footprint of congregants. The "biggest losers"

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-33550651414275287132011-08-04T07:51:00.017-10:002011-08-16T14:01:54.451-10:00

The trial and recent sentencing of an environmental activist in Salt Lake City who protested the selling of oil and gas leases on public lands illustrates an important but largely overlooked moral dimension of an energy economy based on fossil fuels. In this case, the government prosecuted an environmental activist bid on federal oil and gas leases during an auction in 2008. Tim DeChristopher,

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-80954640482407229142011-06-22T13:12:00.010-10:002011-06-24T12:37:05.820-10:00

Al Gore wrote a recent essay for Rolling Stone magazine entitled "Climate of Denial" in which he analyzes the political and social resistance to accepting the theories and models of human-caused climate change. He quotes a philosopher who commented on the rise of propaganda in politics after World War II, that, "The conversion of all questions of truth into questions of power has attacked the

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-77395676239410232062011-03-07T09:19:00.009-10:002011-03-07T09:34:43.736-10:00

A new report from the Center for Health and the Human Environment demonstrates clearly that the low price of fossil fuels hides the true cost of the environmental and social damage they cause. The focus of the report is on coal, but the same analysis can be made for oil, natural gas, or other fossil fuels. The environmental, social, and economics costs are immense, as detailed in a 2009 report by

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-79604740698442928552011-02-17T13:34:00.012-10:002011-02-17T14:21:09.475-10:00

The great religions of the world all exhort their followers to care for the sick, poor, vulnerable, orphans, the outcast and marginalized of society. Environmental theology, following in the footsteps of environmental ethics and moral philosophy, has sought to expand this sphere of care to the natural world. Global warming and climate change has created a nexus of harm and catastrophe for the

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-10040808696554974212011-01-17T13:03:00.010-10:002011-01-17T13:34:59.350-10:00

A new report from the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication shows that although a majority of Americans believe "global warming" (the phrase specifically used) is real, most don't feel they are well-educated about the causes, the risks, and thus the potential solutions. They also feel global warming education should be emphasized more in schools. Perhaps not unexpected, some of those who

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-2478370401971695152010-12-07T15:00:00.008-10:002010-12-07T16:11:04.794-10:00

The world's faith communities are increasingly making stewardship of the planet and our local environment a core value of their faith and a central part of their mission. Their are innumerable local and regional issues of importance, and having local faith communities speak up and act out to let the public and public officials know that these issues are important morally and spiritually can have

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-15863011563042502282010-08-17T14:15:00.006-10:002010-08-17T14:35:23.299-10:00

...excerpts from the Climate Ethics blog...Are Ethical Arguments for Climate Change Action Weaker Than Self-Interest Based Arguments? Why Taking Ethical Arguments Off the Table Is Like A Soccer Team Unilaterally Taking The Goalie Out of the Net.By DONALD A BROWN on August 15, 2010 6:58 PM I. IntroductionMany commentators to ClimateEthics argue that since people are self-interested beings, it is

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-4902026798773258032010-08-03T07:41:00.006-10:002010-08-03T07:49:42.773-10:00

...from the latest Eco-Justice Notes by Peter SawtellJesus and the Climate Billdistributed 7/30/10 - ©2010This week's issue of Eco-Justice Notes is underwritten by Sarah Johnson, of Denver, Colorado. Her generous support helps make this publication possible.The US Senate has given up on any pretense of developing a comprehensive climate and energy bill this summer. "Disappointed" just does not

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-53042816534407827802010-07-27T07:34:00.007-10:002010-07-27T07:38:53.071-10:00

from the national Interfaith Power and Light website...Senate has Moral Responsibility to Act On Climate ChangePublished: July 23, 2010Statement by Interfaith Power & Light’s President, The Rev. Canon Sally G. BinghamSAN FRANCISCO (July 23, 2010) – Senate leadership announced yesterday that, after months of work to craft legislation, the Senate will not take up a comprehensive energy and climate

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-73279407905771576022010-04-15T14:11:00.007-10:002010-04-15T14:18:31.348-10:00

Paul Krugman does a thorough job of summarizing the somewhat daunting economic complexities of climate change policies in a recent New York Times magazine article (nyti.ms/agKlpe). While he certainly does a nice job of encapsulating a lot of information and concepts, his truly global analysis misses the trees for the forest, if I can badly coin a phrase. The real possibility of increased weather

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-12913245671144555642010-03-23T12:00:00.003-10:002010-03-23T12:08:50.682-10:00

This Saturday (March 28), local solar companies RevoluSun and Sunetric are hosting open house tours of homes in Lanikai and Kailua that have installed photovoltaic and/or solar hot water systems on their properties (Star-Bulletin article). This is a great opportunity to learn about home solar systems, talk to homeowners and installers, ask questions about installation and financing, and begin the

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-54768447421276152512010-03-23T11:32:00.008-10:002010-03-23T11:51:25.100-10:00

A new poll has found broad public support for utility-scale solar farms on federal lands (original article). The poll was commissioned to determine public support for US Department of Interior plans to fast-track a number of solar power plant proposals on federal lands in the western US. One of the main advantages of large solar farms is that they can be built quickly because they don't require

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-62061807435804940472010-03-07T14:14:00.007-10:002010-03-07T14:37:17.170-10:00

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is providing $117 million to help finance the construction of the 30-MegaWatt wind farm in Kahuku. The construction is expected to support 200 jobs, with 6-10 full-time positions after completion...more at the Honolulu Advertiser.Although First Wind has held meetings with the community, there are concerns by neighbors of noise pollution and shadows

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-25919830789901190012010-03-07T14:03:00.007-10:002010-03-07T14:12:27.252-10:00

The state of Hawaii is considering employing a "Property Assessed Clean Energy" bond fund to provide loans to homeowners to pay for the cost of installing solar hot water and photovoltaic electricity systems. The loans would be repaid through property tax assessments, and the loan would stay with the property, not the homeowner. Although there are concerns it would add to the state's debt,

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-3569120249787477662010-02-11T07:11:00.013-10:002010-02-25T12:25:24.165-10:00

For many religious communities and other non-profits in Hawaii, there is a real desire and commitment to promote renewable energy. For homeowners and private businesses, the tax credits available from at the federal (30%) and state (35%) levels means that the purchase price can be significantly discounted, resulting in a payback period of 5-7 years. However, non-profits like religious communities

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-87678903460160362552010-01-30T18:02:00.006-10:002010-01-30T18:14:45.877-10:00

This week's broadcast of the Hawaii Public Radio show Energy Futures is about the energy embedded in the food we eat in Hawaii. Since 90% of our food is imported, the thousands of food-miles embedded in what we buy and eat is one of the biggest uses of energy in the state. Promoting local and sustainable food production (as opposed to export-oriented commodity crops) is one of the biggest ways we

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-77527837043840736592010-01-19T13:16:00.009-10:002010-01-19T13:26:59.058-10:00

The Bard Center for Environmental Policy is again hosting the National Climate Seminar series. This is a call-in seminar held the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 3:00 PM Eastern time. You can email questions in advance and ask questions during the seminar. Podcasts are also available. The upcoming schedule is below:01/27 - William Schlesinger, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies:Ecology of

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-2994505136304455262010-01-19T07:27:00.010-10:002010-01-19T13:24:01.557-10:00

A new federal "climate change" bill has been submitted in the Senate. The new framework the CLEAR bill proposes, plus the "cap-n-dividend" approach, is much more aligned with the values of HIPL than the cap-n-trade bill passed by the House. A summary of the bill's pro's and con's is below. Read the full article and let us know what you think. A New Outside-the-Beltway Climate Bill Deserves

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-46380988800137336152010-01-11T09:41:00.008-10:002010-01-11T10:13:47.602-10:00

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported recently on the Hawaii Energy Efficiency Program, www.hawaiienergy.com. This program provides rebates to households for purchasing Energy Star-approved appliances. The eligible appliances include:ceiling fans ($40)clothes washers ($50)dishwashers ($50) refrigerators ($50)window air conditioners ($75) ductless split air conditioners ($110)Hawaii has also applied

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-37924196787092780082010-01-07T22:00:00.005-10:002010-01-07T22:07:08.954-10:00

The Hawaii Energy Policy Forum is hosting a fast-paced energy briefing:Friday, January 0810:00-11:15 AMState Capitol Auditorium (map)Tentative Agenda:10:00 AM – State of the IndustryWelcome - Jay FidellOpening Remarks - Rep. Hermina MoritaReport on Recent Developments - Ted PeckUpdate from Three of our Energy Pacesetters10:30 AM – Energy Initiatives for 2010Presenting the Initiatives - Jay

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-35921937302403013282010-01-02T17:43:00.014-10:002010-01-02T18:35:31.031-10:00

The new year is shaping up to be a great one for renewable energy in Hawaii. First, Hawaii's "solar roof" law (Act 204) went into effect January 01. This law mandates that all new homes have a solar hot water system installed.Second, the La Ola 1.2 MegaWatt solar farm on Lanai is up and running (YouTube video). The electric utility estimates this will provide 30% of the island's peak load.First

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-7747007977887702772010-01-02T17:29:00.005-10:002010-01-02T17:39:57.337-10:00

We are proud to announce that Hawaii Interfaith Power and Light has received two grants totaling $7500 from the Hawaii People's Fund ($2500) and the Hawaii Community Foundation ($5000) to assist us in recruiting new member faith communities and to carry out energy audits at member churches. Our goal for 2010 is to recruit 20 new member communities and carry out 10 energy audits. Look for updates

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-34816717078713069672009-12-15T10:41:00.010-10:002009-12-15T11:32:25.298-10:00

The radio talk show Speaking of Faith recently broadcast an excellent interview with author of The End of Nature and founder of 350.org Bill McKibben. The direct link to the audio file is: tinyurl.com/ybmqp2r.Also, the radio show New Dimensions will be broadcasting an interview with the author of Agenda for a New Economy, David Korten, this week. The program is broadcast on Hawaii Public Radio's

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8567778544055439629.post-73512776917644866322009-12-15T10:10:00.004-10:002009-12-15T11:32:39.916-10:00

Welcome to the Hawaii Interfaith Power and Light (HIPL) blog. We have created this blog to keep our members and friends informed of news and information, events, and programs related to climate change and energy issues in Hawaii and globally.HIPL board members will be allowed to create new posts on this blog. Comments will be allowed for certain posts but will be moderated to ensure

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671378604893301562noreply@blogger.com