The Major Project
March 21, 2010 11:42
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As I mentioned in the last post, we can get all the projects done except for the one major environmental justice project working with another congregation or collaborative organization.
My preference for a major environmental justice project is tied toward another goal of Green Sanctuary - to quit carbon energy as the church's energy source.
It is never going to be cheaper, more cost effective, and get a faster rate of return on our investment than right now with solar. There are excellent federal and state credits to purchasing a solar panel system. Plus, there's a new law in California called AB 920. That law says that starting on January 1, 2011, if you produce more power than you consume in your solar array, the utilities must do one of two things. One, they must pay you back at market wholesale prices. Or they can roll over your account with credit (like they do with cell phone minutes).
We would not be the first UU church to go solar. But we might be the first church in Orange County running entirely on renewable energy. Enjoy the video below.
I had a friend of Charlie and Birdie Reed's to come out to the church to provide an assessment. He works for Greenway Solar and did a nice job with coming up with a report/proposal. If you'd like to see a copy of the proposal, leave a comment and I'll get one off to you.
The Bottom line is this. For the cost of the investment, we get the following:
This proposal is already in front of the Finance Council today. How they come up with the cost is something I will leave in their capable hands. But I would love to hear all of your thoughts as well.
My preference for a major environmental justice project is tied toward another goal of Green Sanctuary - to quit carbon energy as the church's energy source.
It is never going to be cheaper, more cost effective, and get a faster rate of return on our investment than right now with solar. There are excellent federal and state credits to purchasing a solar panel system. Plus, there's a new law in California called AB 920. That law says that starting on January 1, 2011, if you produce more power than you consume in your solar array, the utilities must do one of two things. One, they must pay you back at market wholesale prices. Or they can roll over your account with credit (like they do with cell phone minutes).
We would not be the first UU church to go solar. But we might be the first church in Orange County running entirely on renewable energy. Enjoy the video below.
I had a friend of Charlie and Birdie Reed's to come out to the church to provide an assessment. He works for Greenway Solar and did a nice job with coming up with a report/proposal. If you'd like to see a copy of the proposal, leave a comment and I'll get one off to you.
The Bottom line is this. For the cost of the investment, we get the following:
- We make our own clean, green energy forever at OCUUC.
- We make a 1046% return (over 10 times!) on our investment over 30 years.
- We live out our seventh principle.
- Once the system is paid off, we then work with the Finance Council and the Board to come up with some sort of arrangement similar to Loose Plate.
- This allows us the financial resources to work with another organization or other congregations on a major collaborative project toward environmental justice.
- We have a positive cash flow, at the very latest, in seven years, based on historical averages.
This proposal is already in front of the Finance Council today. How they come up with the cost is something I will leave in their capable hands. But I would love to hear all of your thoughts as well.
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