03 Mar St. David’s Episcopal Connects to a Higher Power

Sunday witnessed a new addition to the liturgy at St. David's Episcopal Church in downtown Austin. Bishop Andy Doyle led a blessing of the solar panel – anointing the last of 570 solar panels that make up the new solar awning over St. David's eight story parking garage. It's a liturgy we hope to hear more often as solar power spreads to additional congregations.

Here is part of Bishop Doyle's blessing:

"O heavenly Father, who for eons bathed us with energy from the sun to be captured in carbon and released for our use in recorded history through combustion. We thank you for the gift of intellect whereby we can now capture that precious resource directly thus being better stewards of the environment around us."

Bishop Doyle and Rev. David Boyd of St. David's celebrate the solar cell project – 146 KW that will provide 18% of St. David's annual energy – and be the the largest of it's kind in downtown Austin.

This project was the long term goal of Parish Administrator Terry Nathan who saw how solar power could contribute to the parish mission of earth stewardship. He planned and promoted the idea for a decade until all the right factors lined up:  declining solar panel prices, Austin Energy rebates and Federal Tax Credits.

The time was ripe last summer and Nathan worked with Meridian Solar of Austin and Austin Energy to make it a reality. With Nathan's financial planning, the $683,928 system makes money from the day it's turned on and has an average energy cost savings of $11,806 per year that the congregation can use to support its many church missions. A free side benefit is the shade it provides over the upper floor of the parking garage.

Speakers at today's press conference included Austin City Council Member Chris Riley – a long time supporter of solar projects and clean energy for the city of Austin and Meridian Solar President Andrew McCalla for whom this project had special meaning. His family's roots go deep in the history of St. David's Parish as he recalled his grandfather riding horseback to attend Sunday services.

Following today's press conference, the final – Blessed – solar panel was taken up and installed to complete the array. Power will be flowing as soon as final system calibration and testing is accomplished by the team from Meridian Solar.

How about ya'll at First Baptist, Central Presbyterian, St. Mary's Cathedral?

Terry's done the hard part: the business plan and liturgy. The rest is up to you. I love writing environmental stories with happy endings.