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Cedar Rapids church goes solar to cut costs, emissions
2025-02-06
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       CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — In the summer of 2024, Christ Episcopal Church in Cedar Rapids took a major step toward sustainability by installing a solar power plant on its campus.
       The 45-kilowatt system cost $142,000 and is designed to provide 100 percent of the church's electrical needs. Ideal Energy began construction in March 2024, completed it three months later, and commissioned the facility in July.
       The project was funded by church savings, $30,000 in donations, and $42,600 in tax credits. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, nonprofits, including churches, are now eligible to receive "direct payments" of 30 percent of the program cost.
       The church expects to save more than $200,000 on energy costs over the next 25 years, while reducing carbon emissions by 40 tons per year. Thanks to Iowa's net metering law, any excess energy can be converted into credits for future energy bills. Since the church must pay monthly utility hookups and regional lighting service, the bill cannot be reduced to zero, but a rebate can be applied for.
       The only maintenance required by the project is replacement and upgrade of inverters every 12-15 years.
       According to a November statement from the Episcopal Church, the monthly electricity bill before the Solar System was activated was $779.74. The following month, the bill dropped to $284.77 (the system was turned on mid-month), and the month after that, to $92.96.
       "In the first six months, we saved over $600 a month on our utility bills," Hogg said. "That's over 80 percent of our electric bill."
       Due to the age and age of the church’s roof, installing Solar Panels on the roof was not an option. Instead, the church decided to install ground-mounted solar panels on a parcel of land that previously grew vegetables through the nonprofit Feed Iowa First. The program provides food services to those experiencing food insecurity. When the roof is eventually replaced, the church will be able to add more solar power and replace the gas furnace with an electric heat pump.
       Once the project is complete, it will be too late to plant a full garden. However, the church's solar committee grew pumpkins and distributed them at the church in October. Hogg told the Iowa News that the committee is excited to resume growing vegetables for Feed Iowa First this year.
       CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — In the summer of 2024, Christ Episcopal Church in Cedar Rapids took a major step toward sustainability by installing a solar power plant on its campus.
       The 45-kilowatt system cost $142,000 and is designed to provide 100 percent of the church's electrical needs. Ideal Energy began construction in March 2024, completed it three months later, and commissioned the facility in July.
       The project was funded by church savings, $30,000 in donations, and $42,600 in tax credits. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, nonprofits, including churches, are now eligible to receive "direct payments" of 30 percent of the program cost.
       The church expects to save more than $200,000 on energy costs over the next 25 years, while reducing carbon emissions by 40 tons per year. Thanks to Iowa's net metering law, any excess energy can be converted into credits for future energy bills. Since the church must pay monthly utility hookups and regional lighting service, the bill cannot be reduced to zero, but a rebate can be applied for.
       The only maintenance required by the project is replacement and upgrade of inverters every 12-15 years.
       According to a November statement from the Episcopal Church, the monthly electricity bill before the Solar System was activated was $779.74. The following month, the bill dropped to $284.77 (the system was turned on mid-month), and the month after that, to $92.96.
       "In the first six months, we saved over $600 a month on our utility bills," Hogg said. "That's over 80 percent of our electric bill."
       Due to the age and age of the church’s roof, installing Solar Panels on the roof was not an option. Instead, the church decided to install ground-mounted solar panels on a parcel of land that previously grew vegetables through the nonprofit Feed Iowa First. The program provides food services to those experiencing food insecurity. When the roof is eventually replaced, the church will be able to add more solar power and replace the gas furnace with an electric heat pump.
       Once the project is complete, it will be too late to plant a full garden. However, the church's solar committee grew pumpkins and distributed them at the church in October. Hogg told the Iowa News that the committee is excited to resume growing vegetables for Feed Iowa First this year.