Utah church spreads the good news about solar

Congregations across the country and in our own backyards are increasingly powered by the sun, thanks, in part, to new federal clean energy tax credits. This September, local leaders visited the Community of Grace Presbyterian Church to see the lights at an event co-hosted with Environment America Research & Policy Center and Interfaith Power & Light, featuring solar experts from HEAL Utah and Creative Energies.

It all started with a leaky roof.

“We had a roof that was springing leaks, from the snow in the spring. At the same time there was a mounting consensus among the congregation that we wanted to do something to build a future and contribute to sustainable energy production.” – Jeff Schreiber, treasurer at Community of Grace Presbyterian Church

Since then, solar has been helping the church fulfill their mission to make the world a little bit better for their neighbors.

“Community of Grace installed an array of 104 panels about a year before COVID, as a commitment to loving our neighbors near and far. Thus far, this project has created almost precisely the amount of energy that our installers quoted us, which means we have saved money that we can use for other ministries of support for our neighbors in need.” – Rev. Hansen Wendlandt

The church received a grant to update their AC units, install heat-reflective roofing and add solar. Today, houses of worship can cover 30 percent or more of the cost of going solar through a new “direct pay” credit thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Individuals can also go solar with help from new tax credits.