Two Statesboro churches have taken significant steps towards sustainability, installing solar panels through Georgia BRIGHT, a statewide program aimed at making clean energy accessible to low- and moderate-income communities. Trinity Episcopal Church and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro (UUFS) are the first two congregations to adopt this initiative, which offers affordable solar equipment leasing.
Georgia BRIGHT, developed by the nonprofit Capital Good Fund, is a Treasury-certified community development financial institution. It provides rooftop solar and battery storage leases, as well as power purchase agreements, targeting households earning less than $100,000 annually and organizations aligned with its mission.
The UUFS project, completed in November, features a 4.8-kilowatt system expected to offset 76% of the church’s energy usage and save $9,000 over 25 years. Federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 played a key role in financing, with the church benefiting from nearly $3,750 in tax credits. Minister Rev. Dr. Jane Page highlighted the project’s alignment with the congregation’s values of environmental stewardship.
“We’ve wanted to transition to solar energy for years as part of our commitment to caring for the Earth,” said Rev. Page. “Partnering with Georgia BRIGHT and Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) made this goal achievable. We hope to inspire other faith communities to follow suit.”
Trinity Episcopal Church, which completed its installation in August, opted for a larger 31-kilowatt system due to its building size. This system is projected to save $62,000 over 25 years and offset 78% of the church’s energy consumption, significantly reducing carbon emissions.
However, the church is still awaiting final grid connection approval from Georgia Power. Once operational, the system will supply surplus electricity to the grid, generating additional savings. Federal incentives totaling approximately $30,000 helped make the project feasible, according to Lissa Leege, Ph.D., chair of Trinity’s Green Team.
“The Inflation Reduction Act was the game-changer for us. It allowed us to finally move forward with solar energy after years of consideration,” Leege said.
Both churches worked with Sunpath Solar, a Georgia-based company, to complete their installations. GIPL’s Solar Energy Procurement Agreement (SEPA), offered through Georgia BRIGHT, provided a structured and affordable path to solar adoption.
In addition to solar initiatives, GIPL offers other environmental programs such as zero-waste campaigns, energy efficiency consultations, and sustainable land use projects. The organization focuses on empowering faith communities to adopt practical climate solutions and advocate for environmental justice.
Jay Horton, GIPL’s communications manager, emphasized the broader mission: “We help congregations build Green Teams to lead environmental efforts and implement tangible solutions like solar energy. These partnerships demonstrate how faith communities can make a significant impact.”
As these two Statesboro churches lead the way, the hope is that more organizations will embrace renewable energy to reduce costs and promote sustainability.
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