New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Lithonia, Georgia, is celebrating turning into one of many first religion communities within the state to put in each photo voltaic and battery storage on its campus, and is the primary industrial pilot participant to pursue battery storage with Georgia BRIGHT and Capital Good Fund.
The transfer comes as a part of a broader effort by the AME Sixth District and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) to remodel congregations into resilience hubs. Geared up with not solely photo voltaic and battery storage but in addition electrical automobile charging stations, congregations are capable of present communities with locations to energy emergency response automobiles, retailer important medicines and search shelter throughout inclement climate and local weather disasters.
“Traditionally, the AME Church has served as a beacon of hope and a secure haven for communities in instances of disaster,” mentioned Bishop Michael Leon Mitchell presiding prelate of the Sixth District AME Church in Georgia. “In turning into Resilience Hubs, our church buildings are honoring that legacy whereas getting ready for the local weather challenges of tomorrow. That is about retaining our sacred name to serve and take care of our neighbors alive.”
“The AME church is exhibiting Georgia what’s potential when religion communities embrace each sensible useful resource stewardship and local weather justice,” mentioned Hannah Shultz, GIPL’s Program Director. “This set up goes past clear power — it’s about constructing the infrastructure our communities have to climate the storms forward, actually and figuratively.”
Presently, there are 12 congregations enrolled in this system pilot with the Sixth District and GIPL, and extra funding has just lately been secured to help implementation at 4 of these congregations. Collectively, the Sixth District’s 482 church buildings have the potential to generate roughly 34 GWh of electrical energy every year. That’s sufficient energy to provide greater than 3,000 households yearly.
“This undertaking represents our dedication to being good stewards of Creation and offering for our group in tangible methods,” mentioned Pastor Will Thomas, Lead Pastor of New Bethel AME Church. “When the lights exit within the neighborhood, we would like New Bethel to be a spot the place individuals know they will come for security and help. That’s what our church is known as to do.”
Put in by Better Tomorrow Solar, the 70.11-kW photo voltaic system and 41-kWh battery storage system is predicted to generate 80% of the church’s annual power wants, saving the religion group over $15,000 yearly in utility prices.
The undertaking was made potential with help from the Hive Fund, Black Voters Matter and Georgia BRIGHT, which financed the photo voltaic power procurement settlement (SEPA) with zero up-front price to the congregation. A program of the nationwide nonprofit Capital Good Fund, Georgia BRIGHT permits nonprofits and householders to entry photo voltaic with out upfront prices by leveraging federal tax credit, grants, and bulk buying.
“Black Voters Matter is proud to help New Bethel AME Church because it leads the best way in constructing stronger, extra resilient communities,” mentioned Melinee Calhoun, State Organizing Supervisor for Black Voters Matter Fund. “This undertaking is about greater than clear power, it’s about guaranteeing that Black communities have the assets, infrastructure, and energy to resist crises and thrive within the face of local weather challenges. By investing in options like photo voltaic and battery storage, we’re serving to create a future the place our communities are usually not solely heard on the poll field, but in addition outfitted to form and maintain their very own well-being.”
“New Bethel AME Church is demonstrating extraordinary management as the primary Georgia BRIGHT Communities participant to combine battery storage with their photo voltaic system,” mentioned Alicia Brown, Director of Georgia BRIGHT. “By embracing storage, they’re not solely chopping prices and growing resilience for his or her congregants and the encompassing group, but in addition exhibiting how group organizations can play an vital position in decreasing prices and growing resilience for the bigger power system.”
To additional help the group’s inexperienced transition, Higher Tomorrow Photo voltaic additionally supplied the church with two twin Stage II EV chargers, which may even energy the group’s electrical automobiles with energy from the solar.
“Putting in photo voltaic and battery storage at New Bethel AME is greater than an power undertaking. It’s a robust assertion concerning the form of future we’re constructing collectively.” mentioned Roji Aldashi, CEO of Higher Tomorrow Photo voltaic. “It’s each inspiring and deeply significant to see the Church lead by instance in its dedication to environmental stewardship. When homes of worship turn out to be sources of energy and security for his or her communities, that’s once we see the true influence of renewable power. We at Higher Tomorrow Photo voltaic are proud and honored to help this vital initiative.”
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