These are remarks I shared at a press conference and demonstration outside PJM Interconnection, about planned increases to electricity rates in Pennsylvania and the region, advocating for more renewable energy sources in the grid:

The congregation I serve as the Pastor, the United Church of Christ at Valley Forge, is a member of POWER Interfaith, a multiracial, multifaith grassroots organization of Pennsylvania congregations and individual people of faith.

POWER Interfaith focuses on the shared values between our different faith traditions; and we focus on the lived realities and struggles of the folks in our congregations and communities. We are committed to how both those shared values and those shared struggles call us to work together for racial and economic justice on a livable planet.

One of our core questions when we meet and listen to folks is: what keeps you up at night?

I’ll tell you, worries about climate catastrophes keep people up at night, especially when they’re on your doorstep.

And worries because of making rent and paying utilities keep people up at night, especially when those costs are going up.

When you look at shared religious values around this, a very high percentage of people of faith across traditions believe that God, or however they speak about the Creator, entrusts humanity with the duty to protect and care for the Earth, as well as for each other.

The problem is that when we don’t live up to this duty, we can catch some pretty nasty come-uppance, right?

At POWER Interfaith, we take very seriously the good, sound science that human behavior is driving the climate change that is driving the escalating environmental catastrophes we’re suffering near and far.

We also take very seriously that engaging in a courageous way with this harsh reality is our duty not only for the sake of good stewardship of God’s Creation, as we say; but also for the sake of our duty to each other.  

This is a justice issue as well as an environmental issue. Because those who bear the worst brunt of climate disasters are poor and working-class people, and racially marginalized folks.

The best climate solutions can and must involve and empower and uplift poor and working-class and racially marginalized folks. So, our call is for “climate justice and jobs.”

But here we are, everyone’s power bills are going to go way up. This is going to keep people up at night. This is going to make life harder for all the households across our state who are living paycheck to paycheck. 40% of households in Pennsylvania struggle to cover the basics every month, as it is.

At the same time, renewable energy initiatives that would create decent jobs and help lower and stabilize electricity rates are being left out in the cold waiting in line because the gatekeepers at PJM Interconnection don’t have their priorities straight.

The people with the most power and responsibility to make the changes we desperately need don’t seem to get just how urgent the situation is. We have to do better to steer away from energy production that is harming our beloved planet and harming our beloved communities. This is what PA voters across the political spectrum overwhelmingly want. PJM Interconnection has tremendous power and responsibility, they need to use it to do the right thing by our people and by our planet.

You can find my sermons about creation care here.