On June 26, 2024, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, visited with Green The Church (GTC) in Berkeley, California, to discuss U.S. Department of Energy partnerships with faith-based organizations to lower energy costs and cut pollution. GTC Founder Rev. Dr. Ambrose Carroll led the Secretary on a tour of one of GTC’s energy sustainability infrastructure sites, McGee Avenue Baptist Church. Secretary Granholm was interested in learning directly from the GTC team and church leadership about the community’s energy efficiency needs.
Green The Church was a recent recipient of the Buildings Upgrade Prize, a Department of Energy program that provides financial and technical assistance to support the transformation of existing U.S. buildings into more energy-efficient and clean energy-ready spaces. The program aims to support community-based organizations in upgrading existing buildings to run on clean energy in order to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change. Building upgrades can include transitioning to efficient electric equipment, including heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, and improving building efficiency through measures such as insulation and air sealing.
There is a tremendous need for churches and other houses of worship to organize to take full advantage of federal aid programs and Green The Church is leading that effort with the Black Church on a national level. During Secretary Granholm’s visit, she shared that she would like to partner with GTC to advise on additional resources available for faith communities that GTC works with.
To meet the moral obligation of reducing their carbon footprint and advancing climate justice for marginalized communities, faith communities need education, collaboration, and engagement. GTC’s Climate Revival, Justice Symposium and Voter Registration Rally on July 20, 2024 will address many of these issues and opportunities and provide resources on how the faith community can further steward their resources through an energy sustainability lens. For more information visit www.greenthechurch.org.
GTC Media & Public Relations: Y'Anad Burrell, Glass House Communications. And Go!
