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Environmental Ministries
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Rebecca Barnes
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Solar

In the heavens, the Holy One has set a tent for the sun, which…like a strong man runs its course with joy. (Psalm 19:4-5)

As the realities of climate change present an ever increasing urgency to our need to act faithfully in our energy consumption, many Presbyterians are exploring ways to support, purchase, and share renewable energy resources as an alternative to fossil fuel energy. From Presbyterian congregations drawing interest from the passers-by that notice solar panels on their rooftops, to a Presbyterian teen purchasing solar panels to charge his electric lawnmower (part of his carbon-neutral lawn-care service), the time is ripe to explore the options of solar energy as part of our Christian discipleship.

 

March 2016 Webinar "Presbyterian Churches & Solar Energy Webinar"

Five PC(USA) congregations shared stories and photos of their solar panels at church, including how they made the decision to invest in solar, how they financed their project, what benefits they’ve experienced, and what other energy efficiency measures they completed.

Watch the webinar recording

Flagstaff Federated Community Church, Flagstaff AZ - Solar Energy

First Presbyterian Church, Jeffersonville, IN - Solar Energy

Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church (WV) powerpoint

Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church (CO) powerpoint

Limestone Presbyterian Church (DE) powerpoint

Find other PHP webinars here

Solar Churches

Factors to Consider

  • Energy Efficiency: Optimize your physical plant BEFORE considering solar.  Decreasing energy demand means a smaller, less costly solar array. 
  • Faith: God’s covenant extends to all creation and we are called to love our neighbors and care for “the least of these.” Discuss in your church how and if solar power may be a faithful response to God’s call?
  • Finances: Research options for your location, such as capital campaign/budget, state/presbytery or Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program Restoring Creation loans (new brochure introducting loan), leasing, crowdsourcing, renewable energy credits, or other.
  • Hardware: Decide size of array (kWh, number of panels, percentage of energy demand covered); aesthetics (some churches want it hidden, some want to show it off!); who will install (a contractor or church volunteers).
  • Evangelism: Some churches have found that solar panels attract young adults and families to their congregation because they are a visible and intriguing witness of Christian discipleship. Visibility of ministry and increased membership may be unexpected outcomes of going solar.

Click here to read White House Actions for Renewable Energy (August 2015)
Article includes these interesting facts on solar: "Last year, the United States brought online as much solar energy every three weeks as it did in all of 2008, and the solar industry added jobs 10 times faster than the rest of the economy.  Since the beginning of 2010, the average cost of a solar electric system has dropped by 50 percent. In fact, distributed solar prices fell 10 to 20 percent in 2014 alone and currently 44 states have pricing structures that encourage increased penetration of distributed energy resources."

Congregational Stories and Funding

Read a few stories about churches who have solar and other earth care ministry.

Most recent (November 2015) story about solar at First Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville IN.

Other solar church stories include:

Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church solar panels on roof

Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church (Denver, CO)

25 kW array provides 60% of demand; upfront cost was $500 with a monthly lease of $100; 25 year lease, then purchase array for $1.00! (Note: not all states have leasing options.)

 

Trinity Presbyterian Church solar panels

Trinity Presbyterian Church (Santa Cruz, CA)

10 kW array; 40 panels provides 98% of electrical need. Acquired10-year $38,000 loan from the Synod of the Pacific, 3.5% interest, payment roughly equal to previous electrical utility bill!

 

 

Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church solar panels

Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church (WV)

85 households participated in crowdsource fundraising, through a water heater project. The church paid $1 for the system: 16 kW, 60 panel system, covers 45% of the electrical needs.

 

 

Limestone Presbyterian Church solar panelsLimestone Presbyterian Church (Wilmington, DE)

In 2008, Limestone installed 180 panels, annually producing 58 MW of power, eliminating 90,000 lbs of CO2 and other pollutants, covering 2/3 of the church energy costs (saving $6,500 in energy costs annually) and producing additional income through Renewable Energy Credits (REC).  Many people who have joined the church recently said they were attracted initially because of the solar panels. The solar project cost $250,000 with a state grant paying for half of it and with a loan from Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program that will be paid for within a decade.  The costs of solar panels are 2/3 less today and solar panels are now guaranteed for 25 years.

 

Congregations have funded their solar projects (after completing energy conservation measures) through various means: regular church budget, capital campaign, a grant, loan, lease, or by crowd-sourcing. Each state and each congregation differs in what is available. Grants are quite rare but some churches have been blessed to receive one.

Crowd-sourcing:

For Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church's solar project, there was a creative crowd-sourcing kind of funding opportunity. A company in West Virginia installed remote-controlled, peak energy regulators on consumers’ electric water heaters.  The heaters are turned off for short periods (< 5 minutes) during peak energy demand.  This reduces the electrical utility’s need for backup power generators.  Homeowners receive $100/year which they donate to the cost of the solar project.  There is no cost for homeowners and no noticeable effect on hot water supply.

Loans:
Contact Presbyterian Investment and Loan program to consider their new green loans!

You may also check presbytery, synod, or community resources in your area.

Leasing (also called third-party financing):
For a state map and more detailed explanations about states that allow third-party ownership, go to http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/onsite/solar_financing.shtml)

NOTE! Only available in some states!

 Two models.

  1.  Customer signs a traditional lease and pays for the use of the solar system.
  2.  Customer signs a power purchase agreements (PPA) to pay a specific rate for the electricity that is generated each month. 

 Motives of third party investor:

  1.  Obtain the 30% federal tax credit (expires 1/1/17 but may be extended.  A church as a nonprofit is not eligible for any tax credit.)
  2. Write off the depreciation of the system.

NOTE: Anyone (including church members can form an LLC and become the third party investor).

 Motives of church (in addition to environmental motive):

  1.  No installation costs.
  2. At end of lease period, choose to either: a. buy the system at the depreciated value (or less); b. remove the system (and install a more modern one).

 NOTE: with decline of local rebates and other incentives, third party leases have become most popular funding mechanism in eligible states (a year ago >75% in Arizona, California, and Colorado)

Solar Financing Guide available from Interfaith Power and Light.

Presbyterians Willing to Answer Your Church's Questions

Contact Environmental Ministries to be connected with one of the churches listed here, to learn more about their solar panels, how they financed it, and what they've experienced as a church, as a result.

The churches and church organizations listed below all have solar arrays.  Each church has a contact person willing to answer some questions about solar power, if you contact Environmental Ministries for their information.  Their funding mechanism(s) are identified by the code: B, Budget; Cc, capital campaign; Gr, grant; Lo, loan; Le, lease; CS, crowdsource.

Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church, Denver, CO:  Le                  

 First Presbyterian Church, Tallahassee, FL: Cc                  

Flagstaff Federated Church, Flagstaff, NM:  Lo                              

Limestone Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE:   Lo                  

North Presbyterian Church, Williamsville, NY: Le                  

Presbyterian Church of the Apostles, Burnsville, MN: Cc                

Second Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, MO: Le                  

Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church, WV: Cs                  

Trinity Presbyterian Church, Santa Cruz, CA: Lo                  

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Knoxville TN: B, Gr              

 Church organizations with solar panels

Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center             

San Francisco Theological Seminary                

Synod of the Sun                

Energy use

Learn more

 

Take action

 

Theological reflection

  • Creation Justice Ministries (formerly the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program) has many theological and worship resources on climate and energy here.

 

Connect to Others

If you're interested in solar, you may also want to learn more about:

 

All available through Presbyterian Hunger Program at: www.pcusa.org/hunger

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