Decatur, Ga. — Faith-based environmental nonprofit, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), has awarded over $11,000 to twelve congregations across Georgia to pilot a new ReWilding program for sacred grounds. Sustainable land use is a pivotal and often overlooked climate solution. Projects across these congregations include invasive species removal, vegetable gardens that will supplement food pantries, native plants and pollinators, and rain gardens.

Statesboro, Ga. — Last week, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro (UUFS) became the second faith community in Georgia to complete a solar installation with Georgia BRIGHT—a first-of-its-kind solar leasing program designed to help low to moderate-income communities cut power bills and carbon emissions. UUFS follows Trinity Episcopal Church, also in Statesboro, which completed a solar installation with Georgia BRIGHT in August 2024.

ATLANTA —The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has revoked the permit amendment of a biomass wood pellet facility after the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) and Sierra Club, mounted a legal challenge arguing the amendment violated the Clean Air Act.

ATLANTA — Today the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) voted to approve three contracts to burn woody biomass for energy that will result in several billions of dollars in cost overruns, impacting Georgia Power Customers’ bills for decades.

ATLANTA — This weekend on Sunday, Sept. 15, in celebration of World River Day, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL), the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Ismaili CIVIC, and over 200 local faith leaders have teamed up to act upon a shared ethic of environmental stewardship and cleanup sites at seven major waterways in metro Atlanta: three in DeKalb County, two in Fulton County, one in Fayette County, and one in Gwinnett County.

ATLANTA — In honor of the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) is hosting a press conference with Senator Warnock’s office on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Statesboro, to celebrate the congregation’s new solar project made possible by the historic legislation.

ATLANTA — Today the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) and Sierra Club, is challenging a move by Georgia regulators to allow a biomass wood pellet plant to double its pollution limits without complying with Clean Air Act requirements.

ATLANTA — Today the Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Coosa River Basin Initiative, Altamaha Riverkeeper, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, the Sierra Club, and others, petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revoke Georgia’s Partial Coal Ash Permit Program because it allows coal ash pollution of Georgia’s water resources by authorizing disposal of toxic coal ash in the groundwater, in violation of national safety standards.

Decatur, Ga. — As of Wednesday, July 10, 2024, with the help of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur now has the capacity to produce 20.6 kW of its own power thanks to 51 newly installed solar panels on the congregation’s roof. Visible from the street, these panels are a witness to the church’s work as stewards of Sacred Earth.

Statesboro, Ga.—Last month, with the help of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), Trinity Episcopal Church in Statesboro, Georgia became the first faith community in the state to sign a solar energy procurement agreement (SEPA) with Georgia BRIGHT—a first-of-its-kind solar program designed to help low to moderate-income communities cut power bills and carbon emissions.

ATLANTA — Today the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) approved Georgia Power’s off-cycle request to burn more fossil fuels for energy as they seek to attract more large-load customers, including data centers, potentially exposing residential and small business customers to greater air pollution and bill hikes.

WASHINGTON—Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) commends today’s announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) providing new national tailpipe emission standards. People of faith know well the value of being a good neighbor and protecting the vulnerable. 

WASHINGTON—Cumming First United Methodist Church (UMC) in Cumming, Georgia is one of only six national Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) Cool Congregations awarded a $1,000 prize in 2024. This annual contest accepts applications from religious communities across the United States working to address climate change.

Decatur, Ga. — Saturday, Feb. 3 Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) hosted its sixth annual Green Team Summit at Oak Grove United Methodist Church (UMC) in Decatur, Georgia focused on climate resilience. Over 230 faith leaders and environmental advocates came together to learn and grow, considering how they might weather the effects of global warming together.

ATLANTA — Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced stronger soot pollution standards following advocacy efforts by faith communities in Georgia. Since 2023, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) has gathered over 700 comments from faith leaders and religiously affiliated environmental advocates urging the EPA to strengthen its ambient air quality standards, also known as soot. 

DECATUR, Ga. — Over 200 faith leaders and environmental advocates will gather next Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Decatur, Georgia for a Green Team Summit on climate resiliency hosted by Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL). This day-long event is designed to provide attendees with practical insights for cultivating climate resilience in their local communities and building a resilient democracy by advocating for environmentally just policies statewide.

ATLANTA — Today the Georgia Public Service Commission held a final vote on how much Georgia Power will charge billpayers for Plant Vogtle construction costs after meaningful involvement from all intervenors. While customers will be on the hook for $7.562 billion in project construction costs, the commission agreed to many pro-consumer terms supported by Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE), Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), and other consumer advocate groups.

ATLANTA — Adamah, North America’s leading Jewish environmental organization, is launching Adamah ATL, a regional community impact hub. In partnership with Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), and with the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Adamah ATL will mobilize the local Atlanta community around Adamah’s areas of national programming while leveraging GIPL’s expertise engaging faith communities in practical climate solutions and advocacy in Georgia.

DECATUR, Ga. — Environmental nonprofit, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), has awarded $57,000 in matching grants to 20 faith communities in Georgia to reduce energy consumption on their campuses next year. As part of their larger Power-Wise program, these grants, of up to $7,000 per congregation, are designed to help faith communities lower their carbon footprint by reducing the amount of energy they consume.

FOLKSTON, Ga. — Representatives from Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant faith communities across Georgia gathered at the Okefenokee Swamp Wednesday, Dec. 6 for a prayer vigil, urging lawmakers to enact House-Bill 71, “The Okefenokee Protection Act," as part of their upcoming legislative session.