Solar

Here at Walter Scott, we have now had our solar panels installed and tied into the grid for around 18 months. As part of that, we wanted to share the experience thus far, some of the numbers, and how this is a viable (and affordable) way to care for Creation that anyone or any church or nonprofit entity can do.

Maintenance:
To begin, our solar panels have been wonderful and very low maintenance. While some folks do clean off their panels to remove dust and improve efficiency, we get frequent enough rain that this isn’t a factor with which we bother. The only times we clean off the panels are if we get a substantial snow that will not be melting for several days (we put in maybe 1 hour of sweeping total over the course of a year). Other than this, we check in to make sure all is functioning on the app twice a week and let them generate power. It’s pretty simple!

Environmental Impact:
Thus far, our solar panels have saved an equivalent of 16 tons of Carbon Dioxide from going into the atmosphere compared to fossil fuel powered electricity. Another way to think about this would be as 1,600 gallons of gas, or driving a standard vehicle 35,000 miles. While there still are minerals mined in manufacturing solar panels, over their lifetime the mined minerals are 26 times less than if this energy were generated by coal. Additionally, solar panels make for cleaner air for everyone, as unlike fossil fuels, they do not increase rates of asthma or other breathing disorders from by-products of burning dirty energy sources.

We do want to acknowledge that nothing lasts forever, and that is why we are grateful there are groups working on industrial-grade recycling centers for solar panels. These aren’t yet ready to handle all of the waste that will come, but people are working on solutions to problems we don’t even have yet.

Our final note on the environmental impact of solar panels is that they alone aren’t going to stop climate change or save the planet, but they are part of an integrated solution to a clean grid. Along with hydropower, wind, nuclear, tidal generators, and battery storage, we can make a healthier environment together.

Cost:
The sticker price for our panels was $50,000. However, thanks to legislation in Illinois (Climate and Equitable Jobs Act) and at the federal level (Inflation Reduction Act), our total cost after all government rebates is $13,000. Given our utility provider and agreement for being tied into the grid, this means the panels will pay for themselves in 6.5 years, with about another 20 of producing free power after that. With the current legislation in place, we would be giving up free money to not have these panels. It is worth noting that if you haven’t looked at solar panels in the past 10 years, they have significantly decreased in cost as production has gone to scale. Like any technology, the cost decreases as it is produced in larger volumes. Do note that you should make certain to go through a reputable company in installing solar. The best way to do this is by asking someone who already has solar panels who they used and if they are happy with the process (we used Straight Up Solar, they were very good to work with, and if you mention we referred you we get $500 – but there are other good solar installers out there too! Just ask around!)

What Would We Do Different:
If we were to install solar panels again (we will be doing this on other buildings at the camp), we would also opt for a battery as well. This will increase the initial cost, but save us money in the long run. We save more by using the energy we produce, than ‘selling’ it to our utility provider. In simple terms, we’d rather we store what we don’t need at the moment we’re generating it for the evening when we need it (and the sun isn’t shining) to maximize our savings.

Final Thought:
We find installing a clean energy source to be one of the expressions of our faith. The numbers show it is wise financial stewardship, but it also is wise earth stewardship. Our faith calls for us to care for this sacred earth, and this is one of the many ways we are able to live into that call. If you want to know more, send us a message and we’ll be happy to talk about more specifics of the state and federal grants, what the process is like from start to finish, Christian Church Disciples of Christ specific financing options, and any other questions you have.

#CampWalterScott #ccdoc #solar #CreationCare #GreenChalice #solarpanels