On October 20, 2024, Sugar Creek Lutheran Church opened its doors to welcome congregation members, nonprofit leaders, and representatives from other houses of worship to explore its new solar system. The new 19.6-kilowatt solar system is set to exceed the church’s current electrical needs by 14%. These savings will allow Sugar Creek Lutheran Church to continue supporting its congregation, provide scholarships to students pursuing higher education, and provide additional community programming. 

The open house featured a tour of its new solar installation, a presentation provided by Solar Project Lead Ervin Schlepp, and materials that outline a step-by-step guide for how other community members and fellow nonprofits can switch to solar energy.  

Established in 1849, Sugar Creek Lutheran Church has been a leader and innovator for the Elkhorn community by providing various programs, including a ‘food in backpacks’ meal service program for two schools, and scholarships for students to further their education. The church’s mission “to witness Christ’s love, presence and acceptance with and for all people” is the foundation of the work they do to ensure a positive well-being for the Elkhorn community. 

As they approached their 175th anniversary, leadership of the church began to deeply consider how they could further impact the community while also excelling in care for the planet. The congregation’s strong connection to the rural land that the church is situated on drove the church’s desire to explore how Sugar Creek Lutheran Church could enhance its energy efficiency. The solar project team identified incentives including the Inflation Reduction Act 30% tax credit and Focus on Energy, which could help make the transition to solar energy a practical and feasible option. Grant programs further assisted Sugar Creek Lutheran Church in transitioning to solar by greatly reducing the upfront costs of installing the array.  

Sugar Creek Lutheran Church contracted a local solar installer company, Adam’s Electric, to install 36 panels. Generous donations from the congregation, in addition to significant grants from the Couillard Solar Foundation and Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation facilitated the development of this project. Through the Solar for Good initiative, Couillard Solar Foundation provided half of the panels needed for the project, and the Moonshot Solar Program funded by Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation contributed $25,000 in grants. By making this project possible through donations from the congregation, Couillard Solar Foundation, and Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation the church will operate on 100% clean energy. 

“In our 175th year of life as a congregation and because of the generosity of our congregation we have the opportunity to provide for the electrical needs of Sugar Creek until we celebrate our 200th anniversary,” said Pastor Dick Inglett. 

Sugar Creek Lutheran Church, and many other nonprofits across Wisconsin, lead by example within their communities by demonstrating how others can benefit through the power of solar by increasing savings and creating healthier communities. Well over 200 nonprofits across the state serve as ambassadors, encouraging communities to embrace clean and renewable energy through the Solar for Good grant program. Each organization reduces its own costs and inspires local residents to consider the positive impact of solar energy, creating a culture of sustainability and well-being in Wisconsin.

On Sunday, October 13, 2024, First Presbyterian Church hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new 139.86-kilowatt solar array. This solar project is the largest system in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and is anticipated to offset 71.8% of the church’s electrical needs. Commissioned in September, the array has already produced 18,000 kilowatt hours of electricity,  enough power to completely cover its electric bill for the month, and marks the first of many months to come where the church runs purely off of clean energy. 

First Presbyterian Church is part of a collaborative network, Winnebago Presbytery, and is one of 28 congregations throughout Northeastern, Wisconsin. The church’s mission is to welcome “everyone to our faith journey, denying no one, regardless of their human condition, participation in church life. We are a sanctuary where people are accepted, included, and cared for as they are. As a community based on God’s love, we strive to serve our neighbors and the world.”

First Presbyterian Church’s journey into switching to clean energy began 21 years ago when the congregation chose to incorporate geothermal energy into its facilities. This form of energy production extracts heat from the ground to warm the facilities in colder months or provide cooling during hotter months. To continue its goal of further use of clean energy, the church turned to solar to enhance its efforts. When numerous forms of energy enhancements are combined, the impact of any one form of electrical generation is exemplified. 

On Sunday, the congregation, Church leaders, Northwind Solar, the Couillard Solar Foundation, and RENEW Wisconsin joined for a breakfast celebration and to hear from keynote speakers who helped get this project completed. First Presbyterian Church’s Solar Lead Gilbert Nimm, explained how transitioning to clean energy not only impacts the immediate environment in Marshfield but is ubiquitous in creating positive change at a much larger scale. 

“It became clear that there were tons and tons of carbon that we could stop from going into the atmosphere that affects people around the world,” Gilbert Nimm said, “We are very proud, you should all be proud that there are no fossil fuels being used in this facility.”

This solar project was completed thanks to the generous donations of the congregation through the capital campaign, “Reach for the Sun: Harnessing God’s Gift of Light”, an anonymous donor, Focus on Energy, and Solar for Good. Northwind Solar installed 260 panels at the location, each panel generating 540 kilowatts. Of the 260 panels, 129 were granted by the Couillard Solar Foundation in partnership with RENEW Wisconsin through Solar for Good.  

First Presbyterian joins a community of nonprofits across the state of Wisconsin who are committed to taking on the challenge of actively working to conserve energy. Going solar through Solar for Good is a foundational step in becoming both more conscious of energy consumption and using clean energy to serve communities. The first month of energy production for First Presbyterian Church is just the start of a long road of reduced carbon emissions and savings that can be redistributed into programming that benefits the community.

On Sunday, August 25, Blessed Sacrament Congregation and School joined in celebrating the upcoming school year and special addition of its new solar array. Their centennial anniversary marked a new beginning for the congregation in its transition to clean energy and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. Through Solar for Good and an ongoing capital fundraising campaign supported by church members, Blessed Sacrament installed solar that is projected to reduce utility expenses by 12 percent, allowing for financial resources to be further allocated towards ministry, and community service including hunger relief efforts.  

Blessed Sacrament Congregation and School welcomes nearly 300 students annually to provide them with an education that aligns with the pillars of community, study, prayer, and ministry. Its impact extends beyond the students and congregation by servicing the community through hunger relief programs, supporting seniors with home maintenance assistance, and hosting discussions on environmental topics. As part of the congregation’s faith, caring for the planet is ingrained in its mission, education, and ministry. To amplify positive environmental impact and maximize financial resources, Blessed Sacrament initiated efforts to reduce energy consumption by turning to solar. 

In its application for the Solar for Good project, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and School articulated its motivation for installing solar panels. “The Earth is not just an accident of the cosmos but rather a gift of inestimable worth. We are called to respond to this gift by honoring the Earth and caring for it,” said Parish Operations Manager, Donna Roeck.

Through support from the congregation and dedicated team, the church worked with Full Spectrum Solar to install 37 panels on the roof of the school. Of the 37 panels, 18 were donations from Solar for Good. This renewable energy source will directly benefit the congregation and students through a clean energy transition. The church has also inspired congregation members to seek out renewable energy opportunities for their own homes through programs such as MadiSUN and Focus on Energy. 

Kara O’Connor, who was part of this solar panel project, shared, “We are working so that Catholic churches and schools can reap the full benefit of the renewable energy programs. We are grateful to RENEW Wisconsin, Solar for Good, and the Couilliard Solar Foundation for helping churches and schools like ours save money and reduce our environmental impact.”

The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church’s solar installation demonstrates the congregation’s dedication to caring for the planet through environmental stewardship. Going solar is the first major step the parish intends to complete over the next few years, and have plans to increase its facilities’ clean energy impact. Blessed Sacrament’s efforts to conserve energy and educate the community serve as an example of how future organizations can further serve their communities, save money, and contribute to positive environmental change by going solar.

St. Paul’s Lutheran church welcomed hundreds of church members on Sunday, August 18 to celebrate the expansion of its facilities and addition of a 114.48 kilowatt (kW) DC system on the roof of its new gymnasium. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church serves the Onalaska community by connecting people to their faith to learn about forgiveness, love, and hope. This initiative to transition to renewable energy emphasizes the church’s commitment to becoming a more sustainable place for the community. 

Since 1888, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church has been a pillar of the Coulee Region community by providing a place of worship. As the congregation expanded, they relocated in the town and later built a small school to begin serving students in 1974.  Today, St Paul’s Lutheran Church educates over 270 students. With a growing congregation and class sizes, they recognized the need to balance the expansion of new facilities and reducing energy costs. By reducing costs that go toward electrical bills, the church can focus its efforts on worship, continued after-school activities, and resources for education. 

Solar Connection installed 212 bifacial panels on the roof of the new gymnasium where future extracurricular activities and tournaments will be held. The system is expected to offset 65% of the church’s energy usage, producing approximately 135,000 kWh per year. This allows St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to redistribute energy savings by amplifying resources and education to the students they serve. In addition to educating the community about its updated facilities, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will be able to share the benefits of solar with students through a digital monitor so visitors and students can continue to learn about solar energy.

Through the generous donations of the congregation and grant funding, this project was able to come to fruition, allowing St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to continue its work in educating future leaders of the community. With the church in operation for nearly 70 years, the solar initiative makes significant strides in achieving clean infrastructure for current and future members. By making the transition to solar, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church has made significant advancements in healing the earth through sustainable clean energy.