Help us meet our exciting new solar energy challenge!
New loafing shed and equipment barn
What is the Solar Energy Challenge?
These south-facing barn roof cried out - Put solar panels on us!
A donor heard the cry and challanged us - Let’s get the job done!
The donor pledges $200,000 if we raise $200,000 by December 31, 2024, so the installation can happen in February 2025.
This will allows us to:
use the power of the sun instead of fossil fuels
cut our electric bills significantly
earn 30-40% federal rebates
The plan is to install 327 solar panels on the south-facing roofs of two barns at our Dairy. Together these panels will generate more than 70 % of the current electrical needs of our community, and result in savings of approximately $41,000 dollars every year on our electric bills.
The Solar Energy Challenge is part of our comprehensive Clean Energy Transition Plan, which has four main components:
Energy Efficiency
Electrification
Renewable Energy Generation
Transportation
Energy Efficiency means that 12 of our buildings are due for roof replacement, using highly reflective roofing materials that will reduce cooling loads significantly. It means that 15 buildings are targeted for new or upgraded insulation to minimize heat loss and gain and therefor to reduce energy consumption. It means that 11 buildings (beyond those already done) will have their windows replaced with advanced, energy-efficient models that meet or surpass the current Pennsylvania building standards for thermal insulation and energy performance. It means, finally, that we will replace all the lighting fixtures and bulbs in common-area spaces and non-residential buildings under a PECO rebate incentive program.
Electrification means that major household appliances and heating and cooling systems in all residential and common buildings will be converted to electric and away from fossil fuels.
Renewable Energy Generation includes solar arrays. We start with the Solar Energy Challenge - 327 solar panels at the Dairy - because of its immediate financial benefits and because it will be a highly visible demonstration that we are moving ahead energetically as we seek funding for the full Clean Energy Transition. The next step in renewable energy generation will be an energy warehouse system: large batteries that will provide backup power for all Dairy building and surrounding residences in the event of a grid failure/power outage.
Transportation. We plan to transition our entire fleet of 23 vehicles to electric vehicles. To ensure our fleet is always ready to meet operational demands, we will be installing 20 Level 2 charging stations: one per house, and the remaining in common building areas, some of which will be open to the public (such as Rose Hall and the CSA parking lots).
How will we fund our Clean Energy Transition Plan?
Our Clean Energy Transition Plan, with the exception only of the transportation component, was chosen by the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) after a thorough vetting process for inclusion in their April 1, 2024, Climate Pollution Reduction grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency. PEA learned in July 2024 that their grant request was not successful – that only six awards were made in that application tier nationwide. PEA has pledged to continue to work with us to bring our project to fruition, and we remain confident that funding will be secured.
The success of the Solar Energy Challenge and the appearance of 425 gleaming solar panels in early spring 2025 will catapult us to the finish line.
