Watts-Willowbrook Church of Christ, known as “The Brook,” in partnership with RE-volv and California Interfaith Power & Light (CIPL), celebrated the commissioning of a new 12 kW rooftop solar power plant and upcoming battery storage facility. The church’s move to adopt solar energy aims to ease financial strains, build community resilience and support local clean energy projects and advocacy.
The celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a speaking program with remarks from Compton Mayor Emma Sharif, and a workshop on resilience. The Mayor presented two awards, recognizing The Brook and Mrs. Linda Cleveland, longtime community activist and church secretary, for their leadership and contributions in the environmental field.
“While significant progress in clean air and energy is underway in South Central LA, more work needs to be done to educate community members about its benefits and how solar and other clean energy technologies can benefit today accessible to them,” said Jacquelyn Badejo, chair of the Climate Emergency Mobilization Commission for the City of Los Angeles. “Since Brook Church uniquely serves three adjacent communities, it is the perfect home base to spread awareness, educate and accelerate local adoption of clean energy.”
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Compton Mayor Emma Sharif said, “This is an important moment for our community and for the future of Compton.” Leticia Vasquez Wilson, director of Central Basin Water Board, on behalf of Laura Richardson, former U.S. Representative and community activist, followed by an explanation: “The installation of solar panels at Watts-Willowbrook Church of Christ represents more than just a step toward of renewable energy – it represents hope, resilience and progress for our community.”
With solar energy, the church will save $184,033 on electricity costs over the next 20 years, thanks in part to the direct pay, also known as elective pay, available through the Inflation Reduction Act. This provision allows tax-exempt organizations to receive 30% or more cash back on the cost of a solar system. With a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation, RE-volv was able to bring their innovative solar financing model to The Brook, allowing them to go solar for zero and start saving on their energy bills from day one.
“The solar installation at Watts-Willowbrook Church of Christ is an excellent example of how the Biden-Harris administration is helping community agencies, especially in communities of color, make clean energy upgrades that reduce costs and lead to quality of life. improvements in life. The Elective Pay tool in the Inflation Reduction Act remains a game changer,” said Ronald Newman, Senior Advisor, IRA Implementation, US Department of the Treasury
The solar and future battery storage system will deliver significant benefits beyond producing clean, affordable energy. With support from CIPL, WATTSKANDA consulted the community during the resilience workshop to adapt their emergency services, including air filtration on unhealthy air quality days and air conditioning during heat waves. The event also provided resources for residents, churches and nonprofits interested in using solar energy, taking advantage of federal tax credits and financing opportunities through the Inflation Reduction Act.
RE-volv, in collaboration with Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) and Green the Church, with support from NREL‘s Solar Energy Innovation Network recently developed an initiative to bring solar energy to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color)-led Houses of Worship. De Beek is the first completed project of the initiative.
News item from RE-volv
