PennEnvironment hosts solar church tours for PA members of Congress

From Pittsburgh to Philly: Let There Be Light. 

PennEnvironment hosted two solar church tours last week with Pittsburgh Congresswoman Summer Lee and Philadelphia-area Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon to celebrate the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act. 

The law, which is the largest climate investment in U.S. history, offers significant financial incentives to Pennsylvania businesses, residents, churches and non-profit groups to switch to clean energy and make energy efficiency upgrades. 

Congresswoman Lee joined PennEnvironment and leaders from Crafton Heights United Presbyterian to tour the church’s rooftop solar array in Pittsburgh. The same week and across the state, Congresswoman Scanlon joined PennEnvironment alongside State Senator Amanda Cappelletti, State Rep. Greg Vitali, and Solarize Delco for a tour of the solar array on the Temple Lutheran Church in Havertown, just outside of Philadelphia.

Houses of worship are great candidates for rooftop solar panels. While people may frequent these buildings much less during the week, the church’s panels will still generate power that can be used by the community. And come worship services, congregations can benefit from the clean power and lower utility bills. 

Pastor Dave Carver of Crafton Heights United Presbyterian says the congregation’s 40 solar panels will provide 105% of the church’s energy needs, and were paid for with financial incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act. The congregation anticipates tens of thousands of dollars in savings.

Benefits of Going Solar:

Beyond the financial and climate benefits, solar panels increase a community’s resilience during extreme weather events. That’s because solar panels and batteries can be independent from the grid, meaning the lights stay on during power outages–critical for houses of worship that provide shelter for the community during emergencies or cooling centers during extreme heat days. 

And of course, by going solar, many congregations are living their values as stewards of the earth by doing their part to reduce air and water pollution and tackle climate change.

That’s why it’s so exciting that nationwide, more than 1,250 houses of worship have installed solar panels, including Pittsburgh’ s Crafton Heights United Presbyterian and the Temple Lutheran Church of Havertown. And with new federal incentives, more houses of worship are now poised to follow their lead.

There’s Never Been A Better Time:

The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022 marked a truly historic moment in the U.S. battle to mitigate climate change, with the single largest investment in clean energy and electrification in the nation’s history. With consumer rebates and tax credits available for solar energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles and more, there are numerous ways for individuals and businesses to take advantage of these incredible programs. 

And for the first time, faith-based institutions and other tax-exempt entities like nonprofits can directly take advantage of these incentives too. 

At their respective events, Rep. Summer Lee and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon spoke about the exciting opportunities offered by the Inflation Reduction Act and encouraged non-profits and residents alike to seize the chance to go renewable:

“Not only does the Inflation Reduction Act make the investments needed to help us reduce the threat of climate change, but it helps consumers reduce their own energy footprints and costs,” said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon. “In the two years since its passage, it’s been exciting to see PA-05 residents and faith communities implement and benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act’s massive investment in climate rescue.”

“The Inflation Reduction Act is a big deal—the largest investment in clean energy in U.S. history, with nearly $370 billion in climate spending. It’s designed to achieve a 40% emissions reduction by 2030, which is a huge step forward. And for the first time, non-profits, governments, schools, houses of worship, and other tax-exempt entities can benefit from tax credits and rebates for clean energy investments,” said Rep. Summer Lee. “Churches like Crafton Heights United Presbyterian are going green, and our neighborhoods are starting to breathe a little easier. But let’s be real—the Inflation Reduction Act is just a step, not the finish line. It shows us what’s possible when we put environmental justice front and center.”

Join the Momentum!

Prior to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, places of worship and other nonprofits were unable to directly take advantage of federal tax credits to support the installation of solar panels. Now, 30% (or more) of the cost of a solar project and installation can be covered by direct pay tax credits from the federal government through 2032.

PennEnvironment has also created a number of tools to help Pennsylvanians know how to tap into the financial benefits available through the Inflation Reduction Act, including our Clean Energy Home Toolkit, and “How your house of worship can go solar“.

With these new federal incentives, there’s never been a better time for houses of worship to get their power from above. So we hope houses of worship will follow the lead of Crafton Heights United Presbyterian and the Temple Lutheran Church of Havertown to go solar, too!