Policy Positions
Interfaith Power & Light is working to help congregations be models of energy efficiency, utilize renewable energy, and to lead by showing a strong example of stewardship of Creation. As communities of faith organizing a religious response to global warming, we believe that climate disruption is among the greatest challenges that humanity has ever encountered. We commit ourselves to the moral imperative of preserving and protecting the planet for generations to come. IPL advocates for energy policies that reduce greenhouse gas pollution, protect the health, beauty and integrity of God’s Creation, support the health of human communities, and promote the use of clean energy.
Interfaith Power & Light believes we need additional safeguards in place to ensure natural gas as a viable transitional energy source from coal to renewable energy. At this time these include:
- Disclosure of the composition and safety of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing.
- An effective regulatory structure to protect human health, the climate, and water and air quality. This includes appropriate resources to allow agencies to enforce regulations.
- Financial assurance requirements that guarantee that industry resources are available to remediate any impacts from potential accidents.
- Development and use of drilling company best-practice standards that address things such as well casing construction, plugging of wells, wastewater treatment and storage, and technologies that minimizes the leakage of natural gas emissions from drilling and pipeline facilities.
- A ban on natural gas drilling in environmentally sensitive areas, such as areas of unique public benefit and fragile ecosystems.
Interfaith Power & Light supports renewable energy, efficiency and conservation. Natural gas development should not distract America’s movement to a renewable energy future.
To learn more about federal climate legislation, visit US Climate Action Network.