On February 16, Skip Stoddard, representing the Justice in a Changing Climate Task Force, presented the following update on research and rationale into possible solar panels for CUCC. The investigation was prompted by comments at the CUCC All Church Retreat on 2012.
When the Justice in a Changing Climate Task Force was created in 2007, we made a commitment to "change our practices" in order to slow climate change.
In addition to educating ourselves and making adjustments to our own homes and lifestyles, the JCC looked at the church itself. We did an energy audit of our facility, and as a result new windows and insulation were installed, decreasing our utility usage and our carbon footprint. Groups and individuals have taken other steps, holding their meetings after church so as not to require a separate trip, carpooling to church and meetings, and holding virtual meetings. What else can we do? Please pass along your suggestions, or better yet, join the JCC.
CUCC uses about 18,000kWh of electricity per year. The majority of this electricity is generated by the burning of fossil fuels, bought and shipped in from out of state. While we are blithely using the power generated by burning this fuel, we are also saddling ourselves with the side effects of CO2 and other gases accumulating in our atmosphere, and of toxic coal ash accumulating in retention ponds, or leaking into our rivers, which are sources of drinking water. And now we are hearing about fracking for shale gas, which promises to jeopardize not just surface water but ground water as well. Usage of fossil fuels is a dirty business indeed.
At the church retreat in the fall of 2012, people expressed an interest in exploring whether installing solar panels would make sense. North Carolina has very good solar power potential, and new solar power systems are developing rapidly here. In fact, in 2013, North Carolina added more new solar systems than any other state except California. The JCC has been investigating solar during the past year. An appraisal determined that our fellowship hall roof is suitable for a 10.5kW photovoltaic system. With such a system deployed, our annual power bill would decrease by more than 50%. We would cut our carbon footprint significantly.
But beyond the savings in money and CO2, having those solar panels on our roof would be a tangible sign to the world outside about what kind of a congregation we are. Just as our rainbow comma attracted new members interested in equal rights for LGBT folks, I would expect solar panels to speak to those with a passion for environmental issues who might be seeking a spiritual home. As stated by North Carolina Interfaith Power and Light: "The sight of solar panels on a house of worship becomes an iconic marker to the broader community, a demonstration of the congregation’s love of the Creator and creation, and it shows a commitment to change our relationship to energy."
For me personally, the call for renewable energy is personal. As a geologist and former professor, I have had lots of colleagues and students that worked for the fossil fuel industry. On the other hand, I also had a brother who devoted his professional career to the design of wind turbines, and who championed the feasibility and advisability of renewable energy as early as the 1970s. Even without considering the damage to the environment that their emissions cause, fossil fuel deposits are finite and will eventually run out. With so-called conventional deposits rapidly declining, it is regrettable that, instead of working on renewable energy, scientists have spent their efforts devising methods to extract more fuel to burn from non-conventional deposits like shale gas, harming the environment even more. This will only prolong the delay until humans must turn their attention to non-polluting energy sources, while continuing to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
The cost of installing a 10kWh array of panels would be about $55,000; a system half that capacity would cost about half as much. Financing the project can be done in several ways. There is an LLC model, a direct donation model, and a third-party payer model. In all models, federal and state tax credits and deductions are involved. But now there is some urgency to the call for this project at CUCC, because the favorable state tax credit is set to expire in 2016.
The JCC has met and spoken with folks from other congregations in North Carolina that have installed solar panels, and we have learned from them. Now, we want to know what you think. Should we install solar panels? If so, how should we pay for them? We will be conducting a poll in two weeks; it will be in the February 28 Friday email and in the March 2 bulletin. We believe this is an important decision for CUCC, so we really need your written feedback. God has clearly called us to be witnesses to the city of Raleigh, to NC and the world, for Justice and for our Earth. Is solar power a way that we are called to witness?
When the Justice in a Changing Climate Task Force was created in 2007, we made a commitment to "change our practices" in order to slow climate change.
In addition to educating ourselves and making adjustments to our own homes and lifestyles, the JCC looked at the church itself. We did an energy audit of our facility, and as a result new windows and insulation were installed, decreasing our utility usage and our carbon footprint. Groups and individuals have taken other steps, holding their meetings after church so as not to require a separate trip, carpooling to church and meetings, and holding virtual meetings. What else can we do? Please pass along your suggestions, or better yet, join the JCC.
CUCC uses about 18,000kWh of electricity per year. The majority of this electricity is generated by the burning of fossil fuels, bought and shipped in from out of state. While we are blithely using the power generated by burning this fuel, we are also saddling ourselves with the side effects of CO2 and other gases accumulating in our atmosphere, and of toxic coal ash accumulating in retention ponds, or leaking into our rivers, which are sources of drinking water. And now we are hearing about fracking for shale gas, which promises to jeopardize not just surface water but ground water as well. Usage of fossil fuels is a dirty business indeed.
At the church retreat in the fall of 2012, people expressed an interest in exploring whether installing solar panels would make sense. North Carolina has very good solar power potential, and new solar power systems are developing rapidly here. In fact, in 2013, North Carolina added more new solar systems than any other state except California. The JCC has been investigating solar during the past year. An appraisal determined that our fellowship hall roof is suitable for a 10.5kW photovoltaic system. With such a system deployed, our annual power bill would decrease by more than 50%. We would cut our carbon footprint significantly.
But beyond the savings in money and CO2, having those solar panels on our roof would be a tangible sign to the world outside about what kind of a congregation we are. Just as our rainbow comma attracted new members interested in equal rights for LGBT folks, I would expect solar panels to speak to those with a passion for environmental issues who might be seeking a spiritual home. As stated by North Carolina Interfaith Power and Light: "The sight of solar panels on a house of worship becomes an iconic marker to the broader community, a demonstration of the congregation’s love of the Creator and creation, and it shows a commitment to change our relationship to energy."
For me personally, the call for renewable energy is personal. As a geologist and former professor, I have had lots of colleagues and students that worked for the fossil fuel industry. On the other hand, I also had a brother who devoted his professional career to the design of wind turbines, and who championed the feasibility and advisability of renewable energy as early as the 1970s. Even without considering the damage to the environment that their emissions cause, fossil fuel deposits are finite and will eventually run out. With so-called conventional deposits rapidly declining, it is regrettable that, instead of working on renewable energy, scientists have spent their efforts devising methods to extract more fuel to burn from non-conventional deposits like shale gas, harming the environment even more. This will only prolong the delay until humans must turn their attention to non-polluting energy sources, while continuing to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
The cost of installing a 10kWh array of panels would be about $55,000; a system half that capacity would cost about half as much. Financing the project can be done in several ways. There is an LLC model, a direct donation model, and a third-party payer model. In all models, federal and state tax credits and deductions are involved. But now there is some urgency to the call for this project at CUCC, because the favorable state tax credit is set to expire in 2016.
The JCC has met and spoken with folks from other congregations in North Carolina that have installed solar panels, and we have learned from them. Now, we want to know what you think. Should we install solar panels? If so, how should we pay for them? We will be conducting a poll in two weeks; it will be in the February 28 Friday email and in the March 2 bulletin. We believe this is an important decision for CUCC, so we really need your written feedback. God has clearly called us to be witnesses to the city of Raleigh, to NC and the world, for Justice and for our Earth. Is solar power a way that we are called to witness?