By Eric Walker
The PNW Commission on Environmental Stewardship wants you to know that several PNW churches are working on becoming resilience hubs, defined as “a trusted, community-serving facility that supports communities in everyday life and before, during, and after an emergency.” There are many components to a hub, but an important one is becoming a community microgrid by installing solar panels and battery storage to remain operational when the power grid goes down.
The Clean Energy Group has just released a video explaining community microgrids in a clear and understandable way. If you are becoming a resilience hub or considering it, this video is a good starting point for conversations within your green team or broader congregation. It is short and to the point. The Clean Energy Group Technical Assistance Fund provides planning grants for non-profits (including churches) considering installing community micro grids.
For more detailed information on resilience hubs, consider this manual developed by the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN). Also, King County in Washington State recently released a progress report detailing its advancement of climate resilience hubs. On page 14, Vashon United Methodist Church is lifted as an example, being a location that combines infrastructure investments with essential community services.
Eric Walker serves on the PNW Commission on Environmental Stewardship and is a lay member of Vashon United Methodist Church.
