Federal regulations have streamlined the process for houses of worship to install solar panels on their roofs, making it a more affordable and accessible option, Grist reported.
Solar power is a cheaper source of energy that benefits our health, lifestyle and the environment by preventing and reducing toxic and harmful pollutants released when burning coal, gas and oil as fuel.
Over the past two decades, religious Americans’ knowledge and beliefs about the need for alternative energy have grown significantly.
“Initially, people of faith were really brave and talked about responding to climate change through renewable energy and energy efficiency as a moral call to care for creation,” Sarah Paulos, program director at Interfaith Power & Light, a national climate action and faith network, recalled to Grist.
The U.S. government offers tax breaks and credits through the Federal Inflation Control Act to encourage the development and use of residential and commercial solar projects. Churches, synagogues, mosques and other institutions that would normally qualify for tax exemptions have not been able to take advantage of these opportunities until now, forcing them to seek alternatives such as power purchase agreements with third parties, Grist explained.
But in 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it would expand IRA guidelines to houses of worship. As Grist noted, this “direct payment” program would allow religious institutions to receive some financial support for renewable energy investments, a move that’s “critical to encouraging more churches to consider going solar.”
The Grist report spotlights one such church, Green Sky Hill Indian United Methodist Church in Michigan, which will be installing rooftop solar as part of its overall energy efficiency goals, which Green Sky pastor Jonathan Mays calls “climate conservation, or creative conservation.”
The expansion of the IRA and the examples set by churches like Green Sky Hill are optimistic signs that striving for sustainability in religious institutions may soon become the norm, despite bureaucratic obstacles, construction concerns and budgetary constraints.
Paulos echoed the optimistic prediction, according to Grist: “I think we’re going to see a real boom in solar power for houses of worship next year,” she said.
Are you ready to put your faith in solar power? Educate those around you, including your faith leaders, about how solar power can save money and benefit everyone. Learn about available tax incentives, support community efforts, install your own panel, and stay informed.
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