Last month, with the help of the nonprofit Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), Trinity Episcopal Church in Statesboro became the first faith community in the state to sign a Solar Energy Purchase Agreement (SEPA) with Georgia BRIGHT – a first. unique solar energy program designed to help low-to-moderate income communities reduce energy bills and carbon emissions. Be smart home solutions will install the 31 kW system.
The church participated in GIPL’s Solar-Wise program in 2020. They worked with GIPL program staff to explore various solar options, with GIPL assisting with the initial assessment and acting as a liaison with several installers. However, most plans were too expensive until Georgia BRIGHT came along.
“When GIPL told us about Georgia BRIGHT and showed us how much we could save, I was initially skeptical,” said Fr. Charles Todd, principal at Trinity Episcopal. “It seemed too good to be true. However, we talked to their team, met the folks at Georgia BRIGHT, saw their model, and discovered that we could actually get solar and save money. We couldn’t be more excited!”
Georgia BRIGHT is funded by the national nonprofit Capital Good Fund. Capital Good Fund uses tax credits, subsidies and bulk purchase rebates to help reduce the cost of solar energy for homeowners and nonprofits like Trinity Episcopal through Georgia BRIGHT for Nonprofits.
“We are thrilled to see Trinity Episcopal finally get solar,” said Hannah Shultz, GIPL program director. “This has been a long time coming and we hope this will allow them to invest more resources in mission and ministry with their community.”
“The benefits of solar energy used to be available to for-profit organizations,” said Andy Posner, Founder and CEO of the Capital Good Fund, “Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, we are helping to change the game and reduce energy costs across the is decreasing!”
News item from Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL)
