Environmental Justice

Unitarian Universalists are reminded of their responsibility to the Earth by the UUA’s Seventh Principle:

“Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”

Like many other initiatives, First U’s commitment to Environmental Justice isn’t created on paper. Instead, it evolved from years of concern by UU’s for the endless attacks on our environment.
Lately, two projects encourage First U members to reduce global warming by installing energy-saving devices and encouraging church members to advocate for environmental justice.

What is coming up this Earth Month?

Resolution on the Climate Crisis:

First Unitarian Church of Louisville acknowledges the imminent threat of the climate crisis to both human civilization and the other species with which we share the planet. We join with All Peoples and other UU churches to call on all members of our community to take action to reduce the threat and mitigate the consequences of the climate crisis.

Adopted by the congregation of the First Unitarian Church of Louisville
at the Annual Meeting, June 2022.

Check with the Seventh Principle Team for activities and ways you can participate.

Earth Month Activities
April is Earth Month at First Unitarian Church and a time we put our planet and its inhabitants front and center of our social justice efforts. The 7th Principle Team invites all to join in support of three Earth Centered action-oriented Sundays this April and a Sunday service in May.
  • April 12 – Hyper-scale Data Centers and their impacts on community and our planet* 
  • April 19 –Water Step – Provides water to communities impacted by a warming Earth
  • April 26 – UUA Green Sanctuary – Aligning our church with UUA environmental stretch goals
  • May 4 – Honoring Earth and all species

Data Center Action

We need your help to get responsible hyper-scale data center (DC) regulations approved for Jefferson County! It has been close to a year since state legislators finalized a 50-year sales tax free incentive for DC developers. A developer’s efforts to purchase land and get approval for the 400MW, Campground Rd. DC (CG DC) somehow came much earlier in the year. Metro Council requested Office of Planning to develop regulations for DCs, but in the interim Council did not establish a requested DC moratorium. Without any change to zoning regulations, the first CG DC approval came in the summer of 2025.

Even though the Office of Planning went to great efforts to meet with and listen to the public outcry in October and November of 2025, a second approval was granted on March 5, 2026, still without any change in regulations. During this public comment period, the Planners received a copy of a Model Ordinance written by retired KRC founder, attorney Tom Fitzgerald. This 21-page document offered a set of guidelines to minimize the harm from each hazard associated with data centers. It also recommended the use of a Conditional Use Permit to establish site specific requirements.

Concerns
Most DCs are being used for AI, a technology that can be beneficial, but provides great opportunity for manipulation of voice and facial imaging, among other misuses, while eliminating jobs. The CG DC will require a 35% increase in the total electricity used in Jefferson County (LGE/KU is building a new natural gas power plant in Jefferson County to provide that electricity). This will increase electricity and potentially water/sewer rates, light, high and low frequency noise, air, water, and climate related pollutions. A recent study out of University of Cambridge, UK, warns of an average 3.6F increase in the urban heat islandeffect. Fifty acres of mature trees on the CG DC property, that helped lessen Louisville’s worst in the nation rating for heat island effect, were clear cut and ground to mulch.

Even though permission to build the Campground Road data center has been given, there is still time to press for the use of best practices in its construction. Although we cannot force the developers of the CG DC to adopt pollution reduction measures, with new regulations in place we can advocate for their use. Furthermore, the new standards, once adopted, will apply to any new data center construction.

Action
The Seventh Principle Team asks that you support these actions.

  • This Sunday during the luncheon, sign a note to your Metro Council representative using the prepared statements at each table. Please also call them, 502-574-11_ _ (last 2 digits are the district number of your representative).
  • If you are a “Climate Saver”, an email will be sent to you regarding action on HB 593, that requires DCs to pay for all incurred costs for the utility services they require.
  • Roger will be available this Sunday after the service and during the luncheon to answer, as best he can, your questions on this important issue.

 

LGE-KU – More Solar and Less Gas

Throughout 2022-23, the Environmental Justice Team worked against the local utility LG&E-KU’s effort to build two new gas-fueled power plants – a project that would force Kentucky to continue burning fossil fuels for electrical power for at least the next 40 years. Here is a summary of what LG&E-KU requested and the PSC’s decision:

In late 2022, LGE-KU filed case 2022-00402 with the Public Service Commission (PSC) to shut down multiple fossil fuel electric generation units, including coal units.  LGE-KU requested these be replaced with only a small amount of solar (877MW) and 2 new gas-fired turbines. State legislators passed a law in the May 2023 making the retirement of coal plants even harder.

Nevertheless, after hearing from many across the state, including First U congregants, the PSC ruled in November 2023:

    • some coal-fired plants could be retired as requested
    • only one gas-fired turbine (Mill Creek) could be built.
    • The Mercer and Marion solar projects (220MW of 877MW requested) were approved  LGE/KU stated they were having trouble financing the other solar.

Everybody got something they wanted, and the PSC left room for coal plants to be replaced with clean renewable energy.  The PSC noted, modeling by LGE showed that solar was cost effective in 3 of 6 fuel scenarios, and in most scenarios when considering future gas prices and Greenhouse Gas regulation.

The Solar Array Project

It’s not something that members, visitors or guests notice when they enter First Unitarian Church. The solar arrays are settled comfortably on the building’s roof, carefully positioned to catch the sun’s rays and convert them to energy. Installed in October 2013, the first solar array of 10 panels is evidence of how this congregation chose to invest in the future by becoming a responsible member of the community, reducing our dependence on energy produced from fossil fuels. Destructive mining practices, including mountaintop removal mining, coupled with overwhelming evidence of the health hazards resulting from burning coal are social justice issues that the congregation could not overlook.

Before adopting solar energy the congregation undertook efforts to reduce everyday energy consumption.

Since 2010, the church has:

  • Installed 56 solar panels on the church roof.
  •  replaced older appliances with new energy-efficient models;
  • installed LED lighting throughout the church building;
  • installed solar shades in rooms;
  • collected cans and other scrap metal to fund the purchase of energy-saving appliances;
  • monitored heating- and cooling-usage on its 10 thermostats and LG&E’s Smart Device.

The solar array converts DC electricity to AC by two separate smart devices that also monitor solar electric generation.  One, is for our first solar array, Enphase, and the other for the new array, Fronius.  Click on them to show their current electric generation. While they have a different look, each has options to select historical information too.  This information provides educational opportunities for our church and the whole community to demonstrate the effectiveness of solar electricity. A drone video of both arrays can be seen here. This is the website that allows the congregation to monitor the collection.

These efforts don’t just support the church’s needs on Sunday mornings. The church complex, which includes both the church and Heywood House, are occupied seven days a week. The building houses non-profits, and hosts weddings, musical events, meetings and other functions for non-profit groups and others throughout the year.

These actions align with the core values of Unitarian Universalism and is a way to bring our faith into the world. By adopting solar energy collection and modifying building equipment to save energy, we are setting an example for our congregation, our community and other Louisville-area faith communities that might be considering how they could also reduce their carbon footprint by using sustainable energy sources such as solar.

The Team for the Seventh Principle

In June of 2020 Board to authorized the Team for the Seventh Principle. They called for this new group because they recognized:

  • The fragile and interdependent state of our Earth and all living things;
  • The need to protect and maintain the quality of our common life-giving natural resources such as water, soil, and air;
  • The need to join with others to bring forth a sustainable society based on respect for our planet and all its life-giving resources; and
  • Our universal human rights to a clean environment.

After detailing the numerous environmental problems facing the world, we concluded that First Unitarian Church members support the Seventh Principle and share its concern for the planet. The Team will involve the congregation in several areas:

  • Make our sacred space environmentally sound,
  • Encourage members to use environmentally sound principles in their lives, and
  • Work in the broader community to support efforts for environmentally sustainable world.

Make our sacred space environmentally sound by:

  • Increasing reliance on solar panel output
  • Submitting monthly energy usage reports in online church newsletters
  • Creating a “green use” of the church instruction sheet for church members and renters.

Encourage members of the congregation to:

  • Attend Sunday service for Earth Day,
  • Participate in Louisville Earth Walk
  • Read periodic updates in the church bulletins

Work in the Broader Community through:

 

CARBON OFFSETS

“Carbon offsets fund specific projects that either lower CO2 emissions, or “sequester” CO2, meaning they take some CO2 out of the atmosphere and store it. Some common examples of projects include reforestation, building renewable energy, carbon-storing agricultural practices, and waste and landfill
management.” (source)
Tourism is responsible for roughly 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. From plane flights and boat rides to souvenirs and lodging, various activities contribute to tourism’s carbon footprint. The majority of this footprint is emitted by visitors from high-income countries, with U.S. travelers at the top of the list.
PROPOSAL: First U members and friends who wish to contribute toward reducing the impact of their travels now have an option to do so by donating into the Solar Array Project at church. Funding of SAP continues First U’s efforts towards reduced consumption and use of sustainable energy, thus reducing the church’s environmental footprint.
Suggested rates
Domestic flights: $10
International flights: $20
Car travel (average 15,000 miles/yr): $60
A contribution to SAP as a carbon offset can be made online using the church website’s “Donate” button and choosing “carbon offset”.

We’d love to have you join us in this important work. Contact [email protected] for information on meetings and other gatherings.

IMAGE BY: https://www.uua.org/worship/words/image/seven-principles-wheel