Join St. Barnabas Church Saturday for a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Celebrating the Completion of a Years-Long Solar Project

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church of Bainbridge Island is inviting the public to a ribbon cutting ceremony and solar energy workshop on Saturday, May 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is located at 1187 Wyatt Way NW.

“This event marks the completion of the solar project at St. Barnabas, which goes beyond reducing carbon emissions,” says church member George Robertson, who has been involved in the solar installation project. “By reducing operating costs and providing clean electricity, this endeavor expands the church’s ability to serve its congregation and the broader community for years to come. This ceremony and workshop is a great opportunity to learn more about the benefits of solar, meet the individuals and organizations that have made this project a reality, and celebrate St. Barnabas’s commitment to caring for God’s creation and supporting and empowering residents of Bainbridge Island.”

The solar project promises to reduce the church’s annual energy burden by $8,181 within the first year. This will save St. Barnabas over $353,600 across the next 30 years, “dollars which can instead support the church’s mission and ministry on Bainbridge Island and in Kitsap County,” Robertson noted. The installation is projected to produce 44,133 kWhs per year of clean, renewable electricity.

According to Puget Sound Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalencies, it will offset 41,573 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. That is equivalent to 48,021 miles not driven or 20,947 pounds of coal.

The project includes 127 solar panels across the church’s roof. Port Townsend’s Power Trip Energy designed and installed the 53.34 kW system that’s capable of producing 44,133 kilowatt-hours per year. Robertson said the installation will reduce the church’s energy bill and contribute to sustainable infrastructure and emergency
preparedness on Bainbridge Island.

“For St. Barnabas, this project has two major goals,” Robertson added. “First, we want to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible, to help care for God’s creation. Second, we want to reduce our cost of electricity, which is one of the church’s largest fixed expenses.”

Said Mason Rolph, executive director of Olympia Community Solar, which was also involved in the project: “Across the state the Climate Commitment Act is supporting faith communities like St. Barnabas to install clean energy systems that not only reduce emissions, but are a vehicle for creating community resilience and keeping our dollars local.”

The project is funded from a grant from the WA Department of Commerce Clean Energy Community Grants program, which is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday, project partners will provide a presentation featuring information about the project, how solar power works, and how people interested in solar can learn more. Refreshments will be provided.

ABOUT ST. BARNABAS CHURCH : We are a community of faith that welcomes and values all people. We commit to follow Christ, serve others, grow in faith, and
transform the world by sharing God’s love. St. Barnabas Episcopal | Bainbridge Island | Washington

ABOUT OLYMPIA COMMUNITY SOLAR: The mission of Olympia Community Solar, a nonprofit
organization, is to steward an equitable and accessible transition to clean energy. We provide
organizations across the state technical assistance to develop and fund clean energy
installations. Learn more at https://olysol.org/.

ABOUT POWER TRIP ENERGY: Power Trip Energy has been installing solar on the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas for over two decades. We are dedicated to improving the future of our
community and our state through the use of solar energy technologies. We specialize in thedesign and installation of grid-tied solar PV systems, and have installed over eight MW of grid-tied pv on over 1100 homes and small businesses since 2003. Harness the Power of Solar with Power Trip Energy Corp – Power Trip Energy

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Solar Celebration
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, May 30th
Time: 11am-1pm
Venue: St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1187 Wyatt Way NW Bainbridge

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