NEWS

Diocese keen on alternative energy

Amy Wu
The Californian
Inside St. Johns Church in King City

Green energy and the Catholic Church don’t typically come hand in hand, but in Monterey County a unique partnership has formed between an environmental interest group and the Diocese of Monterey in advocating for renewable energy.

On Friday morning, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey and a Santa Cruz-based “interfaith group of lawyers, organizers, and researchers who work for social justice”  held a news conference to share their efforts in pushing for Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP). MBCP – a collective made up of 21 local government agencies – is advocating for a renewable energy program run by local governments as an alternative to PG&E.

Greenpower, the renewable energy arm of the Romero Institute of Santa Cruz has spent the past nine months sending paid organizers into churches in the county to advocate for the renewable energy program. Organizers have presented at St. Mary of the Nativity and Christ the King (Cristo del Rey) in Salinas.

The movement appears to be making an impact in parishes across the county.

St. Johns Church in King City

To date, 40 Catholic churches and schools have expressed interest in the initiative and 5,000 area Catholics have signed a petition of support. Some churches have moved forward to adopt the program, and have committed to swapping their current energy program for the initiative.

St. Michaels Church in Boulder Creek is moving forward with a $50,000 alternative energy program, which includes installing solar panels. Madonna Del Sasso in Salinas – with an electricity bill of roughly $5,000 a month – is considering adopting the program, too. As part of their support for the program, the Diocese bank is offering low-interest loans for participating churches.

“For them (Madonna Del Sasso), the savings over time would be significant,” said Benjamin Eichert, executive director of Greenpower.

“We talked with community leaders and officials, and we spoke with masses at the mass. We have a lot of positive support out there,” said Juan Martinez a Greenpower organizer focused on Salinas Valley.

Social justice component
Beyond cost savings, the program is also using social justice as a cause for the initiative.

Greenpower is targeting churches and schools in poor and underserved areas in hopes of spreading a message that Greenpower is tying in with social justice.

Warren Hoy, deacon of Social Justice Ministries for the Diocese of Monterey, said the church adopted it as a means to social justice. He said it is the first time in recollection that the church has partnered with an interest group on a specific cause.

At Friday’s press conference, Bishop Richard Garcia – head of the Diocese – cited the Bible as an impetus for the initiative.

“I went back to the creation of God’s world and looked at the book of Genesis. God said I every give you every seed bearing plant and every seed that has tree bearing fruit and all of the creatures I give all green plants for food,” Garcia said.

Among conversations with fellow Bishops, Garcia said the theme of environmental protection is a priority and a civic duty. The church needs to work in tandem with the local level governments in “maintaining environment for people to live and breathe, and (create a) wonderful environment for their peoples and families,” Garcia said.

Eichert said the partnership with the Catholic Church started with Daniel Sheehan the president and the general counsel of Romero Institute, and a parishioner at Resurrection Church in Aptos.

Sheehan started the presentation at his church and moved forward to reach out to the Catholic Church.

A critical vote for Salinas

MBCP was created in 2013 and is made up of 21 municipalities in the county including Monterey County and the city of Salinas. MBCP suggests that the program will not help cut down on the energy costs, but is also environmentally friendly.

The timing of the press conference is critical as MBCP is nearing a vote for the energy program. All 21 municipalities’ respective City Councils are expected to vote on the initiative by March.

According to state law two or more public agencies can form a joint powers authority. MBCP needs at least three votes from its members to move forward with implementing the program, said Eichert.

Cities that adopt the program will give residents the option of opting out.

To date 19 out of 21 municipalities – including Salinas – have signed a letter to show their support. Sand City and Hollister oppose the initiative, and Pacific Grove and Del Rey Oaks remain on the fence.

The city of Salinas endorses the program and its City Council is likely to vote in favor for it. Public Works Director Gary Petersen said the City Council had voted in favor of MBCP and will be voting on whether to adopt the energy plan.

The city has been involved with the project since the start.

“We think it’s a great idea that has some real opportunities with our citizens,” said Petersen. Perks of joining include a chance to buy renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs for residents and open opportunities to apply for renewable energy grants, Petersen said.

If the agency makes a profit selling alternative energy, the funds would “get reinvested for local areas,” Petersen said.

In November the city and county reached out to residents by issuing a poll. The results show that 75% have not heard of MBCP and of those aware of it, 51% thought it was an excellent or good idea. Poll results showed 65% of respondents said the initiative is important as an alternative to PG&E and 64% said it would keep rates the same or lower them. About 57% strongly or somewhat agreed that PG&E does a good job and there is no need to have an energy program run by local level government.

Salinas resident Kevin Dayton, president of the Salinas Taxpayers Association, said he - along with association members - share concerns about the initiative.

“Notice they didn’t ask `What if it costs you a lot more?’” Dayton said.

He was also concerned the agency will adopt “unreasonable goals for electricity generation and supply.”

Cities may find themselves under “pressure from environmental groups and unions to adopt policies that may increase electricity costs for businesses and residents,” Dayton said.

Dayton continued: “I think Monterey County shouldn’t be dominated by interests of Santa Cruz. They have a lot of idealistic plans for the future and they have to be cautious in pursuing their goal in pursuing climate change.”

With a vote around the corner, Greenpower’s organizers are forging forward with their presentations. Organizers will be at the masses at Madonna Del Sasso this Sunday, and in February they will be at Sacred Heart.

In the meantime, churches that have joined the program are moving ahead to make the transition to green energy.

Rev. Lucas Pantoja at St. John's Church in King City was impressed with the presentations Greenpower organizers made to the congregation.

He is hoping to cut electricity costs – anywhere from $400 to $800 a month – by half. The church will start fundraising the $50,000 estimated to adopt the program.

But the initiative goes beyond costs savings and an “economic point of view,” Pantoja said.

“We are all responsible for taking care of environment,” he said, noting the church will soon be launching a recycling program, too.

Contact Government Reporter Amy Wu at 831-754-4285 or awu@thecalifornian.com. Follow Wu on Twitter @wu_salnews orwww.facebook.com/amywucalifornian.