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Environmental Stewardship in Action with Solar + Storage at First Presbyterian Oak Ridge

October 7th, 2024 | by Anne Brock
church with solar rooftop system

Last Updated on October 8, 2024 by Anne Brock

Faith On Display

Clean, solar energy is putting faith on display in the form of environmental stewardship at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike. A newly installed rooftop solar photovoltaic system with storage will now be offsetting a portion of electrical requirements for the church sanctuary and education buildings. Over the long-term, lower-cost electricity will free more resources for church ministries, possibly including utility subsidies for low-income families. Because the system includes battery storage, excess solar energy production can be stored for later use, including at night, adding resilience.

“God gave us limitless energy from the sun, and the technological creativity to harness it. Our biblical mandate to care for creation compels us to use it for the good of the planet and each other,” said Dan Terpstra, former co-chair of the Property & Maintenance Committee, who led the effort to win approval and financial contributions for the solar project.

church members in front of building with new rooftop solar
First Presbyterian Church members and members of the church’s Solar Subcommittee Dan Terpstra, Joe Everitt, David Mullins, and Jack Graham coordinated the effort to bring solar + storage to their congregation in Oak Ridge.

Planning & Commitment

In 2023, the Session voted to approve the goal of raising funds from grants and from the congregation to install a solar system on the property. “The church project qualifies for 30% federal direct pay in lieu of tax incentives for a solar project,” Terpstra added. “We also applied for and received 20% grant assistance from the Appalachian Solar Finance Fund.” These grants will support a quicker return on investment for the system, while solar generation of power can immediately start to reduce monthly electric bills for the congregation.

Terpstra explained that the balance of funds needed for the solar and storage project was covered by donations and a special educational/environmental endowment. The project did not tap into any regular church funds.

Supporting the Wider Community

“The solar panels on the rooftop of the education building will lower the electric bills that the church pays for the space rented by Early Head Start of Anderson County,” said Jack Graham, current chair of the Property & Maintenance Committee. “These panels nicely complement the new heat pump recently installed for EHS.”

First Presbyterian Oak Ridge provides several types of local community support, including space for childcare, monthly community meals, a venue for scout meetings involving both boys and girls, and spiritual support and Christian worship and education for nonviolent felons recovering from addiction at the Morgan County Residential Recovery Court.

Environmental Stewardship

First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge is a member of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the solar project is in keeping with the denomination’s Collaborative Agenda for Environmental Stewardship.  The document cites Genesis, Psalms and other scriptures regarding faith connection to creation care and concern for the most vulnerable. It states, “Energy choices, more than ever, are moral choices…Together we must radically reduce our carbon footprint.”

Offsetting Carbon

The 20.5 kilowatt (kW), direct-current (DC) system installed on the two buildings can produce enough clean electricity each year to offset the carbon equivalent of approximately:

  • emissions from 12,000 pounds of coal burned,
  • carbon sequestered annually from nearly 13 acres of forest,
  • or 1,200 gallons of gasoline consumed.

Local Workforce

The church enlisted Knoxville-based specialty construction group Solar Alliance Southeast to design and construct the solar project, supporting dozens of local jobs. Solar Alliance Sales Director Tom Talmage said, “We’re honored to be chosen for this prominent display of how renewable energy works on a practical level for nonprofits in our community.”

For more information on environmental stewardship for congregations, you can contact danterpstramail@gmail.com.

For more information on solar and storage projects, you can contact abrock@solaralliance.com.