New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light launches initiative to help houses of worship go solar

Desirée Bernard said the Interfaith Power & Light organization is all about drawing on the moral and ethical “call to care for life.”

Bernard, executive director of IPL’s New Mexico and El Paso chapter, said her group works toward that goal by connecting with faith communities statewide. Members engage in education, advocacy and renewable energy projects.

“We want to work through those morally engaged communities to be an example for how we make the changes we need to make,” Bernard said. “To show that we care about creation, that we care about stopping the destruction of our planet and, framed more positively, caring to make our planet a healthy place for future generations.”

In a webinar Thursday, the chapter launched Project HOW, short for houses of worship, aimed at helping all congregations — be it churches, synagogues or mosques — reduce energy use and adopt renewable systems.

Bernard said fossil fuels are no longer needed to run facilities, but did acknowledge the difficulties in shifting to renewables. One of the biggest challenges comes from figuring out how to finance such projects.

Partners like the New Mexico Climate Investment Center will aid in that process, Bernard said. NMCIC members will assist interested congregations in finding incentives and funding opportunities at the state level.

“Solar energy is free. Once you’re set up with something to capture the sun’s energy, it’s just going to keep pouring in,” Bernard said. “But the hard part is being able to make the investment to get the system set up.”

Santa Fe-based Positive Energy Solar will conduct site assessments and designs, and she said the chapter has also enlisted the help of the Rocky Mountain Institute. As communities try to decarbonize, Bernard said complexities with grid location could arise, leading to the need for RMI’s expertise in energy transition.

Aside from solar panel installation, Bernard said Project HOW can also be utilized to replace traditional gas-burning furnaces with electric heat pumps. Emphasizing the different pathways a congregation can take, she said limiting energy waste is the project’s top priority.

Interested congregations can submit inquiries on the IPL New Mexico and El Paso Region website.

“Accomplishing these projects goes hand-in-hand with amplifying the moral voice through faith communities,” Bernard said. “All of their congregants can be inspired and learn more about the solutions that exist.”