Churches are plugging into solar power

This coverage is made possible through a partnership with Grist and Interlochen Public Radio in Northern Michigan. On a Sunday morning in Charlevoix, a small town surrounded by lakes in northern Michigan, people gathered in the Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church. The small, one-room log building is almost 200 years old and the hymns are sung in English and Anishinaabemowin. It was December, so Pastor Johnathan Mays was leading an Advent service, one of his last, since he would soon retire. In between reflections on scripture, Mays touched on an important venture: The church was planning to install solar panels on its larger meeting hall, working with Michigan-based nonprofit Solar Faithful to do so. Greensky Hill has a long history of environmental care and stewardship, grounded in Anishinaabe culture, with a majority Native congregation. One of the ministry’s priorities is the “greening of Greensky Hill.” Mays said that prompts them to ask “how we can use our space and our resources to address those issues for climate care, or creation care, or what some people call Earthkeeping.” As Greensky Hill works to become more sustainable, it’s switching from propane to heat pumps to become more energy efficient. Mays said solar will allow them to use renewable energy and give that energy back to the grid.  “The biggest issue was how can we get this huge building off of greenhouse gas creation?” he said, referring to the meeting hall, which was built in the 1990s.  According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, houses of worship make up only 0.6 percent of all non-residential buildings but about 2 percent of them in the United States have solar systems as of 2021. However, it can be difficult for congregations to execute solar projects due to tight budgets, older buildings, and more pressing priorities. They also face bureaucratic paperwork and a lack of staff to manage energy system transitions. Additionally, the tax benefits aimed at encouraging renewable energy adoption are often not accessible to houses of worship as they generally don’t pay taxes. However, the federal Inflation Reduction Act has made it possible for governments and tax-exempt entities, including houses of worship, to get tax credits for renewable projects, providing a tax credit worth up to 30 percent of the installation cost. This can help cover some expenses and fuel the growth of solar projects in houses of worship. Local involvement is critical to getting more people to install solar, and impact studies have shown that installations in non-residential buildings can spur others in the area. However, it’s important to address low-income barriers to solar adoption as houses of worship with solar are located disproportionately in relatively wealthy, white, and educated areas. Despite the challenges, congregations have managed to install panels. At the First Lutheran Church in Muskegon, a new solar array shines on the roof and it’s expected to lower the church’s energy bill. These projects are opportunities for more people in these communities to learn about solar and serve as emissaries for solar energy.