LOCAL CHURCH RECEIVES STATE GRANT FOR SOLAR PROJECT

 HARRISBURG, DEC. 4 – State Sen. Connie Williams commended Central Baptist Church in Wayne for being a community leader and setting a high standard for the use of wind and alternative energy.

 The church was awarded a $55,000 Energy Harvest Program grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to purchase and install a 9.8 kW photovoltaic system on the roof of its nursery school. The overall project is anticipated to cost around $89,000. Other sources of funding for the project are through the Department of Community and Economic Development, the congregation  and Sustainable Development Fund in Philadelphia.

 "I was very pleased when I learned that the congregation at Central Baptist Church had decided to move forward with a substantial investment in alternative energy," Williams said. "They truly are setting a high standard and have become a leader in our community for wind and alternative energy, not only through their efforts to implement sound environmental policy in the church, but also through their work with the Interfaith Global Climate Campaign."

 Their latest project will demonstrate that electricity can be generated locally, reducing the church's impact on the electric grid. The project involves the installation of solar panels on the roof of the church facility, which will lead to an electric savings of an estimated 28 percent of the 44,000 kwh of electricity annually used by the church.

 During recent years, the church has taken significant steps toward implementing green energy policies. The church has:

• purchased electricity from Green Mountain since 2000

• participated in an energy audit from the Interfaith Coalition for Energy

• replaced incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps

• installed Energy Star appliances in the kitchen

• installed programmable thermostats

• insulated all hot water pipes in the basement

• placed LEDs in exit signs

• installed an on-demand water heater in the kitchen

• organized meetings with other churches to promote purchases of wind and alternate energy

• sold compact fluorescent light bulbs to members of the congregation

 "I commend the church and its congregation for not just talking about implementing sound environmental practices, but for embracing these new practices as part of the routine operation of the church," Williams said. "The congregation deserves much of the credit for taking this positive environmental stewardship into their own homes and sharing it with other churches."

 "This is a shining example of how everyone can make environmentally-friendly changes in their home, in their church and in their community. Whether it is starting small with replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescent, or making an investment in energy efficient appliances and programmable thermostats. Being energy efficient does not mean giving up comfort or radically changing the way we live. And in addition to knowing you are having a positive impact on the environment, you also will save on your energy bills. It's a win-win situation for everyone."