Notes and actions from 17 July 25 meeting

[Susan Meier (she/her]]

Hello Creation Care Team,

 

Please see below for AI notes from our the meeting . . .

 

Unless we hear strong objections, we will switch our meeting night from the 1st Thursday to the 3rd Thursday of each month, meaning our next meeting will be August 21st @ 6:30-7:30 PM.

 

Season of Creation website: https://seasonofcreation.org/resources/

 

Agrivoltaics is a fascinating topic brought to us by Larry Ryan after a concern brought up in June by Annabel and further discussed by Lee in his notes prior to Thursday's meeting. If you have the time and interest, please take a few minutes to watch some or all of the following videos on Agrivoltaics (installing solar panels high enough so the same land can be used for agricultural purposes also)

 

   - 3-minute video re: one person's initiative into Agrivoltaics

   - 14.5-minute (4 years ago) video to learn more about Agrivoltaics

   - 14-minute (6 months ago) video re: Agrivoltaics

 

 

Here are notes from our Zoom AI Companion (with slight tweaks from me) . . . 

 

AI Meeting summary for Susan Meier's Personal Meeting Room (07/17/2025)

Quick recap The meeting began with a reading from "The Art of Happiness" and included discussions on various environmental initiatives, including an upcoming event on native species landscaping and updates on solar and wind energy projects. The group addressed financial matters, including a potential grant for a church's HVAC repair and the importance of legal review for power-sharing agreements. Finally, the conversation ended with scheduling changes and a mention of a Season of Creation resource related to "peace with creation."   Next steps Susan to share the agrivoltaics video with Annabelle to address her concerns about solar panels taking land out of farming. Susan to follow up on incorporating IPL's offer to piggyback on the synod's gifts for clean energy initiatives. Ethan to provide more concrete information about the timeline and requirements for solar project tax credits when available. Susan to share out the Season of Creation resource to the group for potential use by their congregations. Susan to send out a notice about potentially moving the regular meeting to the 3rd Thursday of each month, starting in August. Mydea to reach out to Maddie at IPL regarding potential grants for her church's HVAC repair. The group hopes that Peoples' Community Lutheran Church is exploring financing options such as ELCA Foundation and other church-related financial resources. Susan will reach out to Sis Mydea to offer this suggestion. Summary Compassion and Green Team Unity The meeting began with Susan reading from "The Art of Happiness" by the Dalai Lama, emphasizing the importance of compassion and understanding in relating to others. Gregg Jones, a guest, discussed an event scheduled for September, which he and Susan confirmed was related to the Green team. The conversation ended with a brief mention of the Green team's unity, reflecting the theme of interconnectedness discussed earlier.   Native Species Event at Roland Park Gregg presented an upcoming event at the Roland Park Community Center on September 9th, featuring a talk by Allison Milligan, a master naturalist and native species landscaper. The event, which runs from 7 to 8:30 PM, aims to promote the importance of native species in creating habitats for wildlife, following up on a previous talk by Douglas Tallamy. Gregg invited attendees to help promote the event and offered co-sponsorship with their logos on the flyer, while Susan expressed interest in the event and mentioned her previous encounter with Tallamy.   Project Updates and Solar Initiatives The group discussed updates on various projects and initiatives. Regina reported that a project involving soil sampling and surveys is progressing, but is currently waiting on permits due to a new system. Ethan shared information about a recent congressional bill that provides incentives for solar and energy upgrades, urging congregations to act soon. Lawrence inquired about tax credit qualifications for solar systems, and Ethan clarified that projects have about a year to start construction and be operational. Susan mentioned that Faith congregation is close to finalizing a contract after a legal review.   Agrivoltaics: Solar and Crops Lawrence shared a video about agrivoltaics, showcasing Byron Kamenak's farm in Colorado that combines solar energy production with crop farming. Byron explained how dual land use can help agriculture adapt to climate change by reducing heat stress on crops and conserving moisture, while also providing additional income streams for landowners. The video highlighted that despite common misconceptions about shade inhibiting growth, crops can thrive under solar panels, with the added benefit of attracting community visitors to the farm.   Solar Power and Funding Concerns Lawrence expressed concern about PBS and NPR's funding threats and praised PBS NewsHour's in-depth reporting. Susan and Lawrence discussed solar panel installations, noting that carports are a successful dual-use option, but emphasized the importance of existing structures and legal agreements. Bernie highlighted the need for legal review of power-sharing agreements and lease terms, while expressing concern about incentive sunsetting. Lawrence shared his positive experience with solar power, noting benefits for churches and the potential for energy credits in Maryland but not Delaware.   New Pastor and Advocacy Updates Lawrence announced that Carla Christopher has been voted in as one of their new pastors, highlighting her strong stance on justice issues. He also discussed his church's advocacy for LGBTQ rights and their involvement in a political booth at an upcoming event in Rehoboth. Additionally, Lawrence shared positive news about the approval of Senate Bill 159 in Delaware, which overturned a decision denying a conditional use permit for a wind energy project, though challenges remain due to tax credit losses and political opposition.   Offshore Wind Energy Benefits The group discussed the positive impact of offshore wind energy, particularly in Maryland, where it will use the same interconnection as Delaware. Lawrence explained that despite concerns about real estate values and views, turbines will be 10-19 miles offshore, making them rarely visible, and emphasized their significant electricity production capacity. He noted that offshore turbines can generate energy consistently, unlike solar panels, and highlighted their resilience during hurricanes. Susan inquired about hurricane preparedness, to which Lawrence responded that turbines can be shut down or adjusted for safety.   Wind Energy Project Progress Update Lawrence shared updates on the progress and challenges of a wind energy project, noting that despite opposition in the Senate, the project is moving forward with permitting completed and a target operational date of 2028 or 2029. He mentioned the involvement of a legislative power team and advocacy efforts, highlighting the support from some senators and house members, though their local representative voted against it. Lawrence expressed gratitude for the advocacy work of Lee Hudson in Maryland and acknowledged the efforts of other advocates.   Church HVAC Grant Assistance Plan The group discussed a potential grant for Sis Mydea's church, which has an HVAC repair bill of $14,000. They agreed to offer $5,000 to help with the cost, and Ethan suggested Sis Mydea reach out to Maddie, the IPL Energy Shepherd for further assistance. Lawrence mentioned that churches might be eligible for no-interest loans, and Ethan mentioned working with green banks and contacting Maddie for more information. The group also considered other potential financial resources like private donors and ELCA Foundation.   Monthly Meeting Schedule Change The group discussed scheduling changes for their monthly meetings, with Susan proposing a move from the first Thursday to the third Thursday of each month to avoid conflicts with IPC's learning labs. Lawrence noted he would be away in August on the third Thursday, but the group agreed to proceed with the change unless strong objections were received. Susan mentioned a Season of Creation resource related to the theme of "peace with creation" that she had shared via email.

AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy.

 

 

Blessings to you for the continuance of a great summer!

~ Susan

[Susan Meier (she/her]]

Dear Creation Care Ministry,

 

Just a reminder that as discussed last month, we'll switch our meeting night from the 1st Thursday to the 3rd Thursday of each month, meaning our next meeting will be August 21st @ 6:30-7:30 PM.

 

I'll send a Zoom link and agenda items closer to August 21st.

 

Blessings,

~ Susan

[Susan Meier (she/her]]

Dear Creation Care Ministry,

 

Sorry for the extra emails, but we wanted to ensure everyone has updated their calendars to the new schedule - 3rd Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 PM.

 

The same Zoom link will be sent for each meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2523747438

 

Meeting ID: 252 374 7438

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Hope to see many of you on August 21st!

 

Blessings,

~ Susan Meier on behalf of Sis Mydea, Charlie, Larry & Deacon Myra