How can I bring solar energy to my community?
Services We Offer
The New York State Council of Churches (NYSCOC) is pleased to work with solar consultant Crauderueff Solar in a mission-based partnership to advance access to solar energy for low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities. NYSCOC and Crauderueff can help your church advance its Creation Care ministry by switching to solar power. As part of our LMI outreach, we can also help your church bring the financial benefits of renewable energy to the community it serves. Additionally, we provide free technical assistance to affordable housing providers (including, but not limited to, faith-based affordable housing). This work is supported by a grant by NYSERDA through its PON 3414 pre-development technical assistance program.
We're here to help you evaluate your solar options based on your resources, local regulations, and electric grid territory. We want you to find the solar solution that works best to advance your church's environmental justice ministry.
First, we'll determine whether or not your property is a candidate for solar hardware installation. This depends on a number of factors including rooftop area, rooftop condition, and solar irradiation.
Then, we can consider whether or not your church property can subscribe to a community solar project to offset your emissions. When you subscribe to community solar, your subscription payment finances a local solar development. In return, you receive credits toward your electric bill.
My church is in New York City or ConEd territory.
We can help you determine whether or not your property is an appropriate candidate for solar installation, based on:
- your rooftop area
- the solar irradiation of your rooftop
- your roof condition (age, pitch, etc.)
Unfortunately, we can only provide solar hardware assistance if you are in New York City or ConEd territory.
My church is in upstate New York.
If your church is located outside ConEd territory, you can pursue either solar hardware installation or a community solar subscription. Unfortunately, you cannot combine these methods at this time due to New York State law.
Solar options for your church
If you are interested in pursuing solar hardware installation, we can help you determine whether or not your property is an appropriate candidate. Schedule a consultation to receive estimates about pricing and potential electric energy output from rooftop hardware.
Alternatively, you can offset your electric emissions by subscribing to a community solar project. Subscribing to community solar is a quick and efficient way to reduce your carbon footprint and to save money. You can save 10% on your monthly electric bills due to the lower cost of solar energy.
Bring community solar to your church community
Community solar also provides a pathway for your church to advance its environmental justice ministry. You can share these benefits with your parishioners by helping them subscribe to the same project as your church. By launching a community solar campaign, your church receives the following benefits:
- $100 payment to the church for each new subscriber
- progress towards environmental justice goals by reducing the overall footprint of the community & lowering energy costs for those in need
- subscribers save 10% on electricity bills
We provide you with a step by step process manual to run your subscriber campaign, including print and digital marketing materials in addition to ongoing technical assistance throughout your campaign.
Scheduling a consultation
Schedule a consultation with representatives of Crauderueff Solar and NYSCOC to discuss your church's options.
What can I expect during my consultation? Who should attend the meeting?
- A review of solar opportunities for your property
- Development strategy for hardware installation if applicable
- Clear next steps to move forward with installation or community solar subscription
- Connection with your environmental justice committee or other key decision makers (note that your church governing board must approve all projects)
