Recent News

Sunday, June 23
Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, 1909 Windmill Lane in Alexandria
6:30 pm – Tour of MVUC’s 25 kw solar panels, snacks, and fellowship
7:00 pm – Solar Workshop for Northern Virginia nonprofits

Why have so many more organizations outside of Virginia been able to “go solar” than have done so here in the Commonwealth?

These nonprofits didn’t purchase the expensive equipment themselves, and do not own the equipment now. But their states permitted them to pay a private entity, which owns the panels on their roofs, for the use of the power they are generating.

Now, thanks to a new state law which takes effect July 1st, nonprofit organizations in Virginia will have access to the same “no money down” solar financing arrangements — called Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) — that have driven so many successful climate-friendly energy projects at community organizations in DC, Maryland, and beyond.

Join Interfaith Power and Light (MD.DC.NoVA) and the Sierra Club at one of Northern Virginia’s pioneering solar congregations for a free workshop on new solar opportunities for Virginia nonprofits. Come learn how your organizations can take advantage of exciting new opportunities to generate clean energy “from heaven”!

RSVP and request a ride from the Huntington Metro Station.
Check out the event on Facebook.

If your religious community pays its electric bill in DC or in Maryland, you may have an opportunity for your congregation to both save thousands of dollars on energy bills and also support clean power.

Interfaith Power & Light (MD.DC.NoVA), together with Groundswell and assisted by a professional law firm, is convening the sixth round of our Community Power Project for local organizations. Organizations combine their purchasing power to secure a lower electricity rate, support clean energy through purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), and obtain a low residential wind energy rate that they can offer to their members and staff.

In previous years, congregations have saved from 3-30% off their Pepco and BGE bills in DC and Maryland, and residents in DC saved 20% off their Pepco bills. Collectively, over 100 participating institutions have saved more than $600,000.

We invite congregations or other institutions in DC or MD to participate in this next round of the Community Energy Purchase. Congregations cannot have a contract with a competitive supplier that expires after October 2014.

For more information on how to save your congregation money and support wind power at the same time, please join one of our other webinars this summer:
Tuesday, June 25 at 10 AM
Tuesday, July 9 at 6 PM
Thursday, July 18 at 10 AM

To register for the webinar: email your name, the name of your congregation, and the date of the webinar that you wish to attend to karen@gwipl.org, with “CPP” in the subject line.

Last year, IPL gathered over a dozen local congregations to participate in the Community Power Project, a group clean energy purchase for Maryland and DC institutions.
As part of that process, we have secured an affordable rate for 100% wind energy for the homes of those associated with the participating organizations.

If you pay your own energy bill in Maryland or in DC, and you either do not have an existing contract with an energy supplier OR your current contract ends before August 15th, you have an opportunity to take advantage of our group’s purchasing power, and to live our your values by supporting clean energy at the same time:
    - BGE customers can get 9.9 cents/kWh for a 1 year contract or 9.7 cents/kWh for a 2 year contract;
    - PEPCO DC customers can get 9.7 cents/kWh for a 1 year contract or 9.5 cents/kWh for a 2 year contract; and
    - PEPCO MD customers can get 9.7 cents/KWh or 9.4 cents/kWh.

To sign up, click here. At the end of the form, choose your congregation from the drop-down menu, or — if it is not listed — select “Interfaith Power & Light”.

Energy efficiency is one of the best ways to cut carbon emissions and reduce our reliance on coal plants.

Are you a homeowner? Join members from local congregations as they undergo energy audits and efficiency upgrades together, to access discounted rates and an easier, guided process.

Read more about the Strong Homes process here and FAQs here. Join now to protect the inside of your home from the upcoming summer heat and save money on energy bills!

Would you like to join this Strong Homes Group? Email program@gwipl.org today to learn more.

Homeowners from local congregations are joining together to care for creation by cutting energy waste in their homes. This is also a great way to make your home more comfortable and to save money on your energy bills! By joining together in this process, we can encourage each other to act out our values while also accessing deep discounts on energy efficiency upgrades and supporting local, socially conscious businesses.

To help members of congregations to cut energy waste at home, we have joined together with Groundswell, a local nonprofit whose mission includes promoting energy efficiency for households and helping communities access clean, affordable energy. Groundswell’s Strong Homes Program brings together homeowners as a group of consumers. Approaching their work as a group allows local home performance businesses to offer community members discounts on home energy services in addition to rebates and tax incentives. Groundswell also ensures quality service from the contractors they work with.

* Would you like to learn more about joining one of these groups to receive discounted home energy efficiency upgrades? Email Josef at program@gwipl.org

* Would you like to host a free workshop at your congregation to start your own group? Email Josef at program@gwipl.org

Take a few minutes to watch the Strong Homes Program video to hear from other homeowners who have participated!