Solar Power in Tucson Diocese of Arizona: A Moral and Economic Choice | energy

“The first is, when we look at the book of Genesis, we're really called to be stewards of God's creation, not abusers. We're not to use it as we please, in our own time, to please ourselves,” Weisenburger advised EarthBeat. “We're to be blessed by creation — but we're also supposed to build it up, and leave it in good shape for the future generations.”

“I think we also have an obligation to use the gifts entrusted to us, the tithes by the good faithful,” he added. “And I honestly think that these efforts that we're undergoing right now are good, not only for the world from an ecological perspective, but also from a financial perspective.”

To date, 12 of 77 parishes have put in solar energy programs in the Tucson Diocese, the nation's fifth-largest diocese by land, overlaying almost 43,000 sq. miles throughout southern Arizona.

The gradual shift to photo voltaic started in 2008 when Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church turned the primary in the diocese to faucet the facility of the solar. Others have adopted, with curiosity rising since Weisenburger turned Tucson's seventh bishop in 2017.

One issue triggering the diocese's rising adoption of solar energy the bishop is not shy to call: local weather change.

“When I got here — almost seven years ago — the people who'd been here for a long time told me, 40, 50 years ago during the monsoon season, it literally rained every afternoon; that was normal,” Weisenburger recalled. Fast downpours, in specific, have been typical of the area's local weather.

“Our climate has changed, remarkably,” he mentioned. “We're seeing here what's being seen all over the world, for the most part — that there's a change going on.”

This yr, Tucson has had 92 days above 100 degrees Fahrenheit — lower than the blistering stretch in Phoenix of 113 consecutive days with the mercury over 100, however nonetheless 20 days greater than regular.

Pima County, which incorporates Tucson, has confirmed 152 heat-related deaths to this point in 2024, whereas in Maricopa County, which incorporates Phoenix, the death toll is 256, with one other 393 circumstances underneath investigation.

The warmth additionally impacts water entry. In March, Arizona State University’s Arizona Water Innovation Initiative mentioned the state “is already experiencing more frequent and intense droughts, a shrinking snowpack, and groundwater depletion, alongside persistently high agricultural demand and growing urban demand.”

The methods local weather change is impacting Arizona have motivated the Tucson Diocese to search for methods to cut back its heat-trapping greenhouse fuel emissions, whether or not by way of photo voltaic energy, Weisenburger driving an electrical car or his advocacy for state and federal environmental insurance policies.

 Motivation has additionally come from Pope Francis.

“He doesn't just point out what the environmental scientists are pointing out — critical and important as that may be — but in Laudate Deum he calls our journey toward better stewardship a pilgrimage of reconciliation with the word that is our home,” Weisenburger mentioned. “He's going further than just pointing out the problem. He's pointing out there's a better way to live — and that's something we all need to hear.”

Parishes see photo voltaic financial savings

In addition to ethical and scientific rationales, the shift to photo voltaic has introduced financial benefits for parishes as properly.

One of the diocese's largest parishes, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, on Tucson's south facet, has saved 30% on electrical payments after putting in photo voltaic panels, a big lower in utility prices that beforehand ran $10,000-15,000 a month.

Corpus Christi Catholic Church, a smaller parish with out a college, put in photo voltaic in 2012, and now absolutely owns its system. It too has seen its electrical invoice slashed by tens of 1000's of {dollars} yearly.

The diocesan chancery has adopted go well with, in 2024 putting in a big photo voltaic array that's anticipated to produce 95% of the facility demand for the chancery and the adjoining St. Augustine Cathedral campus. Precise figures should not but accessible for the cathedral undertaking, because it went on-line solely weeks in the past. The diocese anticipates vital financial savings on its energy invoice.

“Our decision to go solar has brought about significant positive impacts for our parish. We have begun to significantly reduce our carbon footprint with our solar panels,” mentioned Fr. Alan Valencia, cathedral rector and diocesan vocation director.

Valencia advised EarthBeat that financial savings tied to the brand new photo voltaic set up — powering the church, cathedral workplace and chancery — will enable the parish to raised allocate its assets, with funds that have been beforehand consumed by electrical payments now accessible for ministries.

“The solar panels have also provided a significant amount of shade for our community in the high temperatures of Arizona,” he mentioned, referring to the elevated, ground-based panels.

“This shift to solar energy,” Valencia added, “has not only been beneficial for the cathedral, but has also reinforced our intention of being other-centered, using our energy in the best possible way, and inspiring others to make a difference in our community and the world.”

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish, in northwest Tucson, in 2023 put in photo voltaic panels over a basketball court docket and parking areas. The system covers 83% of the church and college's electrical energy wants, whereas offering the additional benefit of cooler youngsters and vehicles.

“Bishop Weisenburger for years has promoted the use of solar in the diocese — he's urged the pastors to look into it,” mentioned Fr. Ed Lucero, pastor at Elizabeth Ann Seton and the diocese's vicar normal and moderator of the curia.

He mentioned the photo voltaic array has helped management the parish's utility prices, a precedence for each parish and particularly necessary for giant congregations like his. The new system has lowered its energy invoice $4,000 to $5,000 a month.

“It's pretty significant,” he mentioned.

Guided by a ‘photo voltaic sherpa'

Recently retired, John Shaheen wore many hats in his 22 years with the Tucson Diocese. A property director, insurance coverage director, threat supervisor and facility supervisor, he oversaw 24 main constructing initiatives totaling greater than $67 million.

An unofficial title was “solar sherpa.”

“I share with them what I know,” Shaheen, nonetheless talking in pre-retirement tenses, mentioned of discussing photo voltaic's potential. “To see if I can encourage them or discourage them from going into it — and I've done both.”

In Tucson, Catholic parishes usually have two set up choices. In one case, it owns the solar energy system, managing the undertaking from begin to end and paying for all related prices and future upkeep. Or it might lease parish property to buyers who work with a photo voltaic firm that installs panels and handles repairs.

In proudly owning the system, a parish does not should pay for the electrical energy generated — an alluring prospect — however they have to retire the development debt, which might be “a big outlay of money,” Shaheen mentioned. 

Through a lease, buyers personal the system, typically with little upfront value to the parish. The investor makes cash from the electrical energy the photo voltaic array generates whereas the parish receives a locked-in decrease energy price. The buyers additionally took benefit of tax incentives that weren't accessible to nonprofit entities, however a provision underneath the Inflation Reduction Act permits religion establishments and different nonprofits to obtain tax credit immediately for qualifying energy initiatives.

Not all parishes are candidates for a lease settlement, with measurement and producing capability two key components, Shaheen mentioned.

“A lot of parishes don't generate enough electricity, because they're small,” he mentioned. “They say daily Mass, so the church is being heated or air conditioned only for an hour or two a day. … They can't generate enough money to make it worthwhile for the investors,” he mentioned.

Parishes with faculties and many ministries working all day are extra engaging for buyers.

“You need an active church,” he mentioned.

Parishes assembly that description typically see instant financial savings in the primary yr, although Shaheen cautions their energy payments do not disappear.

Ground-based photo voltaic panels are hottest in the Diocese of Tucson, with solely new constructions thought-about for rooftop panels. On terra firma, the panels are free of potential structural issues rooftop or elevated panels might pose  — a scenario that closed one Tucson parish for nearly a yr when its older roof could not bear the load the panels positioned on it.

Shaheen advises any diocese contemplating photo voltaic installations for its parishes and properties to work with a good agency with expertise with main installations. “A company that you know is going to be around for the next 20 years,” he mentioned.

Weisenburger provided one other piece of counsel.

“I encourage everybody to look at how they can make an impact,” he mentioned. “And if you're not sure how to do it, talk to the young. They'll have an answer for you.”