Give Now  »

Indiana Public Media | WFIU - NPR | WTIU - PBS

News Contact IPM News Indiana Public Media News

{ "banners": { "tv" : [ {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-29-20-5-31-20-6-1-20-6-3-20-wtiu-mc-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1590746400000", "endingDate" : "1590811140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-30-20-wtiu-mc-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1590811200000", "endingDate" : "1590897540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-29-20-5-31-20-6-1-20-6-3-20-wtiu-mc-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1590897600000", "endingDate" : "1591070340000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/6-2-20-wtiu-mc-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591070400000", "endingDate" : "1591156740000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-29-20-5-31-20-6-1-20-6-3-20-wtiu-mc-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591156800000", "endingDate" : "1591214340000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/6-3-20-4pmto930pm-wtiu-mc-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591214400000", "endingDate" : "1591234200000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-29-20-5-31-20-6-1-20-6-3-20-wtiu-mc-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591234260000", "endingDate" : "1591243140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/6-4-20-6-5-20-wtiu-mc-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591243200000", "endingDate" : "1591415940000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/6-6-20-wtiu-mc-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591416000000", "endingDate" : "1591502340000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/6-7-20-wtiu-mc-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591502400000", "endingDate" : "1591588740000"} ], "radio" : [ {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flgkr2wNtsqwhq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-19-20-wfiu-fund-drive-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1589902200000", "endingDate" : "1589947140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flgkr2wNtsqwhq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-20-20-wfiu-fund-drive-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1589947200000", "endingDate" : "1590033540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flgkr2wNtsqwhq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-21-20-wfiu-fund-drive-banner.jpg", "startingDate" : "1590033600000", "endingDate" : "1590119940000"} ] }}
{ "lightboxes": { "tv" : [ {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-29-20-5-31-20-6-1-20-6-3-20-wtiu-mc-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1590746400000", "endingDate" : "1590811140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-30-20-wtiu-mc-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1590847200000", "endingDate" : "1590897540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-29-20-5-31-20-6-1-20-6-3-20-wtiu-mc-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1590897600000", "endingDate" : "1591070340000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/6-2-20-wtiu-mc-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591070400000", "endingDate" : "1591156740000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-29-20-5-31-20-6-1-20-6-3-20-wtiu-mc-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591156800000", "endingDate" : "1591214340000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/6-3-20-4pmto930pm-wtiu-mc-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591214400000", "endingDate" : "1591234200000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-29-20-5-31-20-6-1-20-6-3-20-wtiu-mc-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591234260000", "endingDate" : "1591243140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/6-4-20-6-5-20-wtiu-mc-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591243200000", "endingDate" : "1591415940000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/6-6-20-wtiu-mc-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591416000000", "endingDate" : "1591502340000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/6-7-20-wtiu-mc-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1591502400000", "endingDate" : "1591588740000"} ], "radio" : [ {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flizvLEFSbjC6m3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-15-20-wfiu-predrive-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1589515200000", "endingDate" : "1589601540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flizvLEFSbjC6m3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-19-20-wfiu-fund-drive-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1589902200000", "endingDate" : "1589947140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flizvLEFSbjC6m3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-20-20-wfiu-fund-drive-lighbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1589947200000", "endingDate" : "1590033540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flizvLEFSbjC6m3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/5-21-20-wfiu-fund-drive-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1590033600000", "endingDate" : "1590119940000"} ] }}
{ "item" : [ {"label" : "t", "mp3" : "as", "startingDate" : "1568692800000", "endingDate" : "1569124800000"} , {"label" : "h", "mp3" : "k", "startingDate" : "1568001600000", "endingDate" : "1568433600000"} ] }
true true true true

Evangelical Churches In Indiana Can Get Solar Panels Through Grants

By Rebecca Thiele

Posted April 29, 2020

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington has solar panels on its roof. These grants are hoping to target evangelical churches with an interest in solar.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington has solar panels on its roof. These grants are hoping to target evangelical churches with an interest in solar. (Rebecca Thiele/IPB News)

A faith group aims to help put solar panels on 20 evangelical churches around the state and reduce energy use at some of their members’ homes by 25 percent. Creation Care Partners hopes churches can put politics aside and do what’s best for God’s Earth. 

Rev. Bob Whitaker is the senior pastor at Evangelical Community Church in Bloomington. He says the Earth is a gift from God and it's humanity’s job to take care of it. Whitaker says it’s also about helping your neighbor — air pollution disproportionately affects people who are low-income.

“So it seems like it’s incumbent upon us who do have the means to implement the change on their behalf and it’s for the benefit of all humanity,” he says.

Whitaker says by reducing their energy costs, churches with solar panels can put more money toward serving others. He says it would also give churches more wiggle room in their budgets for crises like what we're seeing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Churches that receive the grants will also host solar and energy conservation workshops at other churches around the state.

READ MORE: Faith Groups Fight Climate Change: It's Imperative To Care For God's Creation

Whitaker says he realizes many evangelicals see environmental stewardship as a political issue, but it doesn't have to be one.

“So let’s take politics out of it and just ask what it means to be good stewards of the beautiful creation that God has given us," he says.

Funding for the $500,000 in grants for churches comes from a federal settlement against American Electric Power — which owns the Rockport coal plant — for past air pollution violations.

Faith communities interested in the grants for solar panels can contact Creation Care Partners through its website. It will start accepting applications in May.

Contact Rebecca at rthiele@iu.edu or follow her on Twitter at @beckythiele.

Indiana Environmental reporting is supported by the Environmental Resilience Institute, an Indiana University Grand Challenge project developing Indiana-specific projections and informed responses to problems of environmental change.

Read Next

Want to contact your legislators about an issue that matters to you? Find out how to contact your senators and member of Congress here.

Support For Indiana Public Media Comes From
Become an Indiana Public Media supporter
Local News Headlines, delivered free to your inbox each weekday

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Environment Stories