Solar-Powered Faith Communities and Houses of Worship: Saving Money and Ethical Labor

Thursday, April 13th at noon

On Thursday, April 13th at noon, ReImagine Appalachia Faith in Action hosted a webinar for folks learn how non-profit entities including houses of worship can help grow solar in our communities. This included a nuts-and-bolts overview of how to go solar and discussion on how to ensure that new solar jobs in our communities are good jobs. 

Speakers included:

• Jeffrey Allen, Executive Director at West Virginia Council of Churches
• Jim Kunz, Administrator at Pennsylvania Foundation for Fair Contracting
• Monica Carey, Pennsylvania Program Director Solar United Neighbors
• Marc Palmer, Conductor Solar, on behalf of Appalachian Solar Finance Fund
• Dan Conant, Installer at Solar Holler

Files shared:

Resources shared:

• PA Houses of Worship that Have Gone Solar

• PA Solar Center Solar Installation Map

• Laura Recchie (she/her) shared her information about Community Renewable Energy, an enterprise of the equitable development firm Praxia Partners. Based in Ohio but work all over!  www.praxia-partners.com

• George Banziger ([email protected]) shared the story of solar panel installation on the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta

• Study about the economic impacts of apprenticeship programs relative to getting a state school degree

• Solar United Neighbors geographical range: we operate in PA, OH, WV, IN, MD, Wash DC, VA, FL, TX, CO, MN, AZ, and Puerto Rico. Feel free to check out the Solar United Neighbors website https://solarunitedneighbors.org or email us at [email protected] 🌞

• Solar United Neighbors is Wonderful but they focus on Residential Installations. PA Interfaith Power and Light is currently working with the PA Solar Center to establish a Get Solar Faith Co-Op

• It is HIGHLY recommended that any potential building first get an energy audit before installing panels, you can find more information at our Faith in Action team event on the topic here

• Check out the Solar Finance Fund’s website if you think a grant could help your organization go solar.  https://solarfinancefund.org/

• For nonprofits and community businesses in either Southeast PA or Northeast PA… the Clean Energy Co-op provides assistance and financing for solar projects. Members of the Clean Energy Co-op invest to finance these projects to make them happen. Anyone can become a member of the Clean Energy Co-op to help our mission and PA members can buy preferred shares to join us in local social conscious investing. Check us out at CleanEnergyCoop.org to either become a member or contact us for a potential project.

• Central Baptist Church installed 48 panels in 2008. Chuck Marshall ([email protected])