Eagle Solar & Light began installing a 42-kW rooftop solar system at Oak City Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, a community church founded in 1865.
“Part of our church mission is to care for all living things,” says Rev. William T. Newkirk, pastor at Oak City Baptist. “Renewable energy is better for our earth and the people and creatures who live on it. That made our choice to install solar an easy one.”
The system will produce approximately 59,000 kWh, saving Oak City Baptist an estimated $4,700 in yearly utility costs.
“We want to increase our community’s resilience and hope to add a storage component in the coming years,” Newkirk said.
Oak City Baptist will receive a $27,000 rebate toward its installation through the NC Solar Rebate Program through Duke Energy, which offers rebates of 75 cents per kilowatt to nonprofits up to 100 kW. A limited amount of rebate funds are set aside specifically for nonprofits, including churches, charities, and schools; however, if left unclaimed at the end of 2022, the rebates will become available for commercial buildings and residential properties instead.
The Oak City Baptist project will be ESL’s 12th solar installation for a nonprofit in the past 18 months in North Carolina.
“Oak City Baptist’s decision to move forward with solar continues its long-standing tradition of leadership in the community,” said Scott Alexander, managing director of Eagle Solar & Light. “We commend the church for taking these important steps toward reducing its carbon footprint and energy costs. We are proud to add them to our portfolio of faith-based communities.”
