🅉 Community Solar Info Session

From the Rabbi: 

Dear friends,

We have a big decision to make!

For several years, the JCA's Green Team has been working on a strategy to decarbonize the JCA's energy infrastructure.  The goal has always been to do our part, as best we can, to address the sprawling climate crisis, decreasing our communal carbon footprint for its own sake, and as inspiration to member households to undertake the same effort.

The most significant pathway to doing so, as identified by numerous climate activists and theoreticians, is through moving to electricity as much as possible, and to generating that electricity through renewable energy systems, such as solar power.  

Despite the benefits in terms of emissions reduction, we often come up against the reality that this is not necessarily the "cheapest" way to go (though there are indeed long term upsides to our fiscal bottom-line, as well.)  As a consequence, the cost involved in making this ethical transition has often emerged as a barrier to taking this step on behalf of future generations.

But we are pleased to report that an anonymous donor has now stepped forward to donate $160,000 toward the fulfillment of this project, which amounts to well over a third of the total cost.  This changes the calculus--putting the project within the JCA's reach.
The JCA's board recently discussed adopting this project, and determined that it was a big enough decision--involving both a significant change to the JCA's physical appearance and a significant capital campaign--that the board vote should not proceed without full transparency and robust community input.

To that end, we would like to invite you to a community information meeting to lay out the details of this project, and invite questions, comments, and criticism.  The meeting will feature participation from members of our finance committee, who have vetted this project, and the technical advisors who have conceived of it, such that you will be able to receive informed responses with regard to both of these core aspects of the endeavor. The meeting will be recorded so those who cannot attend can view it afterwards.  After the meeting concludes we will send out a community input survey to gather your thoughts and concerns to present to the board at their March meeting. 

Meeting Details: Tuesday February 13, 7pm - zoom only

The Zoom link will be on the JCA Website - zoom links page

Though this will ultimately come down to a board vote, and the board has expressed initial support for going forward with this transition, the gauging of communal opinion will be a major factor in the final decision, so please come, learn, and make your voices heard in this et ratson--this hour of urgency, decision, and possibility!

b'shalom,

RBW