Ellie Kerns
Climate and Clean Energy Advocate, PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center
Local tour highlights innovative solar project at Slatington’s Lehigh Gap Nature Center
Media Contacts
Slatington, PA – State Senator Nick Miller, local officials, and residents joined leaders from Lehigh Gap Nature Center (LGNC) and the nonprofit environmental group PennEnvironment for an informative tour of the nonprofit’s innovative solar project. The tour was held to educate Slatington residents about the benefits of clean, renewable energy and how they can go solar if interested.
“There’s never been a better time for nonprofits to use the power of the sun to electrify their organizations,” said Madeleine Hepting, organizer for PennEnvironment. “Plentiful sunshine and generous solar incentives are available. It’s time for more nonprofits in Pennsylvania to take advantage of them.”
In June of 2018, the Lehigh Gap Nature Center worked with Evoke Solar to install a 65-panel, 23.4kW solar system on the Osprey House Visitor & Education Center, funded by a grant from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. The rooftop solar array offsets 100% of the building’s annual electricity usage. So, not only is LGNC able to save money on their utility bills, the array also eliminates 49,560 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The green building also boasts super-insulated walls and ceilings and a geothermal heat pump HVAC system amongst other sustainable upgrades.
Chad Schwartz, executive director of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center explained, “As the first nature center in the U.S. created from a restored Superfund site, Lehigh Gap Nature Center is committed to promoting sustainable practices and climate action. In addition to reducing our carbon footprint, LGNC’s solar panels serve to educate visitors on a tangible step they can take to work toward a greener, more sustainable future.”
The solar array delivers significant savings to the Nature Center on their monthly electricity bill to the tune of about $2,500 a year. Other nonprofits that want to follow suit have the added benefit of tax credits that can dramatically lower the price tag for going solar or installing their own geothermal heat pump.
“I’ve been doing solar for 21 years,” said Wes Checkeye, co-owner of Evoke Solar. “And it’s pretty cool to see things like this happen at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center here because when I started doing solar we were one of three installers in the tri-state area. Now I’m a small fish in a large sea of solar installers in the nation, and we’ve seen this thing actually develop into something that’s making a visible difference.”
Solar energy is abundant, efficient and increasingly affordable, and nonprofits 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 nonprofits to save a ton of money on their utility bills.
Solar panels also increase a community’s energy resilience during extreme weather events. Solar panels and batteries can be independent from the grid, meaning the lights stay on during power outages.
The Lehigh Gap Nature Center is seeing financial benefits from their panels in addition to their 2010 geothermal heat pump installation. Their heat pump utilizes the constant temperature of the earth to provide heat and hot water. It’s been operating for 15 years and continues to save energy, lower their utility bills, and further their mission by reducing air and climate pollution.
“In terms of energy moving forward we’ve got a lot of work to do,” said State Senator Nick Miller. “Something that we prioritize in my office is making sure that we’re providing energy needs for small businesses and families to heat and turn the lights on in their homes but being environmentally conscious about the impact.”
Right now, Pennsylvania is ranked 26th in the nation for solar power. The Lehigh Gap Nature Center hopes that their array can inspire other businesses and nonprofits 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.
