 |
Wind Power
Main Line Unitarian
Church
Devon, PA
In the Main Line Unitarian Church of Devon, Pennsylvania,
social activism among the congregants comes naturally.
The congregation has a long tradition of social
justice advocacy and organization, and a broad
range of active committees working on issues from
fighting racism to just foreign policy to helping
the local homeless. So after members of the church
listened to Rev. Fred Small at a rally in front
of the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C.,
and learned a bit about their own state’s
role in global warming, it was only natural that
they would transmit their ideals into action with
the creation of a Green Sanctuary Task Force to
combat carbon dioxide pollution.
Pennsylvania alone produces one percent of the
world’s carbon dioxide production annually
with its coal-fed electricity plants: the type
of plant responsible for 40 percent of America’s
carbon dioxide emissions. These facts horrified
the Green Sanctuary members of MLUC, but also
spurred them to action on a wide range of fronts.
The group organized tours of alternative “Trash-to-Steam”
plants; hosted speakers on diverse ecological
topics; encouraged congregants in everyday environmentalism
through a monthly church newsletter column; participated
in public protests and petition drives and key
activist organizing summits; and influenced church
procedures for recycling and the procurement of
environmentally-just goods. But perhaps the most
significant accomplishment of the Green Sanctuary
team was successfully switching Main Line Unitarian
Church to 100 percent wind energy: a significant move
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a powerful
model for other members of the community considering
such a change.
|
|
As a practical measure to help subsidize the added costs of wind energy, MLUC conducted an energy audit and implemented further conservation efforts by switching to energy-efficient lighting and exit signs, upgrading appliances, and holding church sales of energy efficient lighting for church members’ private homes. As one of the first churches in Pennsylvania to switch to total wind energy, MLUC was honored repeatedly as a “Green Hero,” a “Green Religious Buyer,” and was among the first member churches of the Unitarian-Universalist Association to receive the distinction of Green Sanctuary recognition. In addition to the church itself, 47 households in the MLUC operate their own homes with wind energy.
Not resting with their commitment to the environmentally-sound
energy source, MLUC also campaigned tirelessly
for Wind Power, performing numerous public presentations
on the topic and sponsoring wind energy education
displays and lectures at MLUC’s own Earth
Fest 2003: the church’s noted Earth Day
celebration, which was widely lauded as the best
regional Earth Day event in 20 years. Over 1,000
visitors and 80 exhibitors came through the church
that day to participate in Earth Fest, and the
effort and innovation displayed led several new
families to join Main Line Unitarian Church: a
congregation dedicated and actively working to
leave its children a cleaner world.
Contact Information:
Main Line Unitarian Church
816 S. Valley Forge Rd.
Devon, PA 19333
Phone: (610) 688-8332
Website: http://mluc.org
|
