By Whit Trovillion
Solar Energy World has had the distinct privilege to engage with Clearwater’s Trinity Presbyterian Church to help the congregation and the associated preschool lower their monthly utility bills and help accomplish their mission in the community as good stewards of the earth.
In March of 2021, Trinity committed to seek the formal designation of an “Earth Care Congregation” in order to be better stewards of God’s earth. The church formed a team to begin looking into various projects to that end. The church needed to replace their sanctuary’s roof anyway and Solar Energy World, in partnership with our sister company, HomeFix Custom Remodeling, was able provide a rock-bottom price to replace the sanctuary’s roof prior to proceeding with the installation of solar photovoltaics (PV). Under the Greater Saint Petersburg’s Solar Co-Op program, numerous solar energy clients pool their collective buying power to obtain ultra-competitive pricing.
Solar Energy World worked up a design for over 132 kilowatts of PV on the southern exposure of their sanctuary, and the east/west exposures of the adjacent fellowship hall. This large installation of 391 panels and microinverters will offset most or all of the campus’ energy needs for decades.
Trinity was able to secure financing from their parent Presbytery to cover the cost of this capital project and the denomination has plans to promote Trinity’s project as a model to encourage other congregations in the region to undertake similar projects.
Kathi Trautwein, the church’s Director of Administration, reported that Trinity is working with the Clearwater City Commission, the Sierra Club, and their denomination to highlight this project and use it as a teaching tool for the broader community. As she put it “Our church is located in a very visible location to provide a visual to people passing by from several prominent streets, businesses and a school.” They plan a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark this momentous occasion, probably in late August or early September.
As a non-profit, Trinity will not enjoy the considerable tax advantages that homeowners and private business are entitled to, but even without those benefits, the Church will still enjoy a payoff horizon of about 9 years with this installation, and the system will be happily offsetting their energy needs for 30 years or more.
Installation of the PV began in earnest in July of 2022 and is expected to be completed by mid-August. The inspections, permitting and licensing will likely be completed by mid-September and the utility (Duke Energy) will likely grant the Permission to Operate (PTO) by late September. The community plans a ribbon cutting ceremony for September 1st.
Even though this is still very much a work in progress, it has already attracted the attention of local politicians and business groups in the region who have plans to hold Trinity Clearwater up as a model for others to emulate and it has already resulted in follow-on contracts in the region.
