Georgia church goes solar with help from Capital Good Fund

Last month, with the help of the nonprofit Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), Trinity Episcopal Church in Statesboro, Georgia became the first faith community in the state to sign a solar energy procurement agreement (SEPA) with Georgia BRIGHT—a first-of-its-kind solar program designed to help low to moderate-income communities cut power bills and carbon emissions. Be Smart Home Solutions will install the 31-kW system.

The church entered GIPL’s Solar-Wise program in 2020. They worked with GIPL program staff to explore different solar options, with GIPL assisting in the initial assessment and acting as a liaison with various installers. Most plans though 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 skeptical at first,” said Fr. Charles Todd, Rector at Trinity Episcopal. “It seemed too good to be true. However, we talked to their team, got to know the Georgia BRIGHT people, saw their model and learned that we really could get solar and save money. We could not be more excited!”

Georgia BRIGHT is funded by the national nonprofit Capital Good Fund. Capital Good Fund takes advantage of tax credits, grants, and bulk purchase discounts to help lower the cost of solar to homeowners and nonprofits like Trinity Episcopal through Georgia BRIGHT for nonprofits.

“We’re thrilled to see Trinity Episcopal finally get solar,” said Hannah Shultz, GIPL Program Director. “This has been a long time coming and we hope it will allow them to invest more resources into mission and ministry with their community.”

“Previously the benefits of solar were available for-profit entities,” said Capital Good Fund founder and CEO Andy Posner, “Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, we are helping change the game and cut energy burden across the state!”

News item from Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL)