Local tour highlights innovative solar project at Lewisburg’s St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Senior Warden Maggie Chappen, Envinity’s Cam Willison and local elected officials join statewide enviro group PennEnvironment to learn the benefits of going solar

PennEnvironment Deputy Director Flora Cardoni stands with leaders from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Lewisburg, Union County Commissioner Stacy Richards, East Buffalo Township Supervisor James Knight, Envinity, and local parishioners and volunteers in front of St. Andrew’s solar arrayPhoto by TPIN | TPIN

Lewisburg, PA – Local officials and residents joined leaders from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and the nonprofit environmental group PennEnvironment for an informative tour of the church’s innovative solar project. The tour was held to educate Lewisburg residents about the benefits of solar energy and how they can go solar if interested.

“There’s never been a better time for houses of worship to use the power of the sun to electrify their congregations,” said Flora Cardoni, deputy director for PennEnvironment. “Plentiful sunshine and generous solar incentives are here. Now is a critical time for more congregations in Pennsylvania just need to take advantage of them.” 

In August 2023, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Lewisburg worked with Envinity to install a rooftop solar array with 52 panels, enough to offset 100 percent of its annual electricity usage. This is not only saving the church money on its utility bills, but the array also eliminates approximately 20 tons of carbon emissions annually.

Senior Warden, Maggie Chappen, explained that St. Andrew’s Episcopal church decided to go solar “for three reasons: financial, environmental, and inspirational. And we have succeeded on all three aims.”

The solar array delivers significant savings to the church on their monthly electricity bill to the tune of $3000 a year. Churches that want to follow suit have the added benefit of solar energy tax credits that can dramatically lower the price tag for going solar.

“St. Andrew’s had a lot of goals related to environmental stewardship, cost savings, and keeping more dollars flowing to their mission as a nonprofit, said Cam Willison, Manager of Commercial Solar Development at Envinity. “These 52 solar panels are able to cover 100% annual usage at the church.”

Solar energy is abundant, efficient and increasingly affordable, and churches are often great candidates for rooftop solar panels. Harnessing more energy from the sun would mean cleaner air, a more stable climate, less strain on natural resources, and an energy source we can depend on to be virtually pollution-free for as long as we can imagine. Plus, going solar increases energy independence and reliability and allows churches to save a ton of money on their utility bills.

A member of St. Andrew’s parish expressed her experience with the community’s response to the solar panel installation. She’s repeatedly had conversations with Lewisburg residents along the lines of… “Oh you’re the church with the solar panels! How’s that going? What’s happening? So we feel, as parishioners, that it’s not only providing us with energy it’s also advertising just like Maggie said, it’s a wonderful advertisement for churches.

Right now, Pennsylvania is currently ranked 26th in the nation for solar power. Church leaders hope that their array can inspire other churches across Pennsylvania to follow their lead, choose clean energy, and help Pennsylvania become a solar leader.

PennEnvironment is holding events like this throughout the state to help spread the word about the benefits of going solar so that more houses of worship, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals can invest in a clean energy future too. 

Check out photos and a video of Maggie to see more! 

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Resources: 

• How your house of worship can go solar: Federal tax credits are helping churches, synagogues, temples, and other houses of worship go green with solar energy. 
• Clean Energy Home Toolkit: Guides & resources for weatherizing your home, cutting energy bills, buying an electric car, and information on financial incentives