For over two decades, Englewood Christian Church, situated on the Near East Side of Indianapolis, has championed the cause of safe and affordable housing for its residents. But as gentrification reshapes the neighborhood, displacing long-time residents—many of them low-income people of color—the church’s mission has evolved into a battle for environmental justice.
Pastor Mike Bowling, who spearheads the congregation’s efforts, describes their mission as “creation care,” emphasizing both environmental stewardship and social equity. Through initiatives like green housing developments and solar energy projects, the church addresses both sustainability and community preservation.
Solar Energy Meets Economic Disparity
Among the church’s notable projects is the Oxford Place Senior Apartments, a 30-unit net-zero housing development powered by 500 solar panels, geothermal heating, and rain gardens.
While Oxford Place generates enough energy to meet its needs, a dispute over net metering with Indianapolis Power and Light (IPL) prevents it from fully benefiting from its green energy production.
Net metering typically allows energy producers to sell surplus power back to utility companies at retail rates. However, IPL insists that multifamily buildings like Oxford Place can only sell energy at lower wholesale rates and must repurchase it at higher retail rates.
This discrepancy undermines the potential financial relief that renewable energy could offer low-income seniors.
“This was an opportunity to provide low-income seniors a real break,” Bowling said. “But instead, the current setup locks them into an inequitable system.”
Transforming a Community
The church’s broader mission extends beyond housing. As a lead partner in the IndyEast Promise Zone initiative, Englewood Christian Church has attracted over $120 million in funding to revitalize the neighborhood. This includes projects like the redevelopment of the former P.R. Mallory battery factory into educational facilities and the creation of hydroponic farming operations.
Bowling and the Englewood Community Development Corporation (ECDC) have also prioritized health and sustainability in their developments.
Affordable housing initiatives like Parker Place Senior Apartments provide stable homes for low-income seniors, including those transitioning out of homelessness. Such projects not only foster community but also reduce reliance on emergency healthcare and social services.
Challenges and Opportunities in Energy Policy
The dispute over net metering highlights broader inequities in Indiana’s energy policies. State regulations exclude buildings with more than four units from traditional net metering benefits, leaving multifamily housing developments at a disadvantage.
While utility companies argue this approach aligns with existing statutes, critics like Bowling and the Indiana NAACP’s environmental climate justice chair Denise Abdul-Rahman see it as a missed opportunity to support low-income communities.
“Clean energy is a right for everyone,”
Abdul-Rahman said, emphasizing the importance of fair energy practices for marginalized communities.
Despite these challenges, Bowling envisions a future where renewable energy can be harnessed equitably. Projects like the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Solar Project aim to train community members in solar panel installation, empowering residents while providing access to clean energy.
1% of Indiana’s power is solar generated
A Vision for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
Englewood Christian Church’s efforts underscore the importance of aligning environmental initiatives with social justice.
“At the very least, we can always care more for our neighbors than we do for ourselves,” Bowling said.
Through persistence and innovation, Englewood Christian Church continues to champion a vision where sustainability and equity go hand in hand, offering a model for communities across Indiana and beyond.
