Let there be light

WANTAGE-And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." (Genesis 1:3) Upon first glance, the marriage of solar electricity and religion might strike passersby as an unusual union. However, according to the Rev. Fain Webb, leader of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Wantage, it is integral to what the church stands for. "It's part of our church's orientation to be good stewards of creation," Webb said. And, she said, that covers the environmental issues that affect the county, state and nation. Driving past the church on Route 23 in Wantage, it's hard not to notice two large solar panels adjacent to the main church building. A partnership between the Sun Farm Network, a solar power company based in the Warren County town of Califon, and Green Faith, offers individuals and community organizations the opportunity to install solar energy systems. Through this partnership the panels were installed on the church property. The benefits for institutions like the Church of the Good Shepherd are obvious, says Webb. "If we produce more electricity than we use, we get a credit, and we won't be paying JCP& L anything," Webb said. Churches, like most non-profit, tax-exempt organizations, are on a tight budget, and the program appealed to the congregation for its economic merits as well as its environmental impact. Rev. Webb, first pitched the idea to the executive committee of her congregation several months ago after returning from a church convention in Las Vegas. It was there that she attended a seminar given by Rev. Fletcher Harper. Harper is the Diocesan Environmental Minister and Executive Director of Green Faith. The committee liked the idea, but wanted more information. Within weeks, people from the Sun Farm Network and Green Faith came to speak to the committee. Once the committee heard the facts and saw the numbers promised to them by Sun Farm and Green Faith, they were sold on the idea. "Absolutely everything they (Sun Farm Network) told us would happen, has happened," says Webb. The process almost stalled midway through due to the unique architecture of the church building. Normally the panels are installed on the roof to ensure maximum sun exposure. However, the angular nature of the Good Shepherd roof worried the installers from Sun Farm Network. "Since we had land adjacent to the church, they were able to set it up facing the optimal direction," Webb said. "The process ended up taking longer than expected due to bedrock so close to the surface." The partnership between Sun Farm and Green Faith, known as Lighting the Way, has been used to install solar panels for other churches within the state. Sun Farm Network promises no up-front cost to the churches, with the installation costs being paid in monthly installments. The total cost for the program for Webb's congregation was defrayed through several incentive programs offered by the state and federal government. New Jersey offers a Clean Energy rebate and an Environmental Benefit Credit. This reduced the total cost to be paid back to Sun Farm Network from more than $140,000 to less than $40,000. The Episcopal Church holds that environmental stewardship is every member's responsibility. Green Faith itself is an interfaith ministry, and Lutheran and Unitarian as well as Episcopal churches have taken part in the program. According to the program's literature, the first four churches to receive the panels will generate more than 1 million kilowatt hours of electricity over the next twenty years. For comparison, the average home uses 4,400 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. More significantly, by relying on solar energy to create electricity over the next twenty years, the four panels will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.25 million pounds. In addition to the environmental aims offered to parishioners, Rev. Webb leads her congregation in several aspects of community service. The congregation participates in the township's recycling program and the Adopt-a-Highway program, tends a memorial garden, and operates a soup kitchen and food pantry. A community dedication of the panels will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Aug. 20. The public is invited.