In Columbia: Something new under the sun
St. John Henry Newman Parish puts solar panels into service to save money making cleaner energy
Father Daniel Merz led a group up to the roof of St. John Henry Newman Church in Columbia.
Vestments flowing in the wind, he offered prayers and went about sprinkling holy water onto an acre of brand-new solar panels.
“Through the work of our hands and the help of technology, we collaborate with the Creator to improve the earth as the dwelling place of the human family,” the priest proclaimed, “by our efforts to bring the work of creation to perfection, to contribute to the advancement of society, and carry out Christ’s mandate to follow him and serving one another in love.”
The ceremony marked the completion of a system containing 306 separate solar panels and the infrastructure necessary to turn energy from the sun into electricity that’s compatible with the local power grid.
The solar panels convert light and heat from the sun to clean energy for the church while reducing its power bills by about two-thirds.
“It’s a beautiful gift to be able make use of something God has been giving us since the dawn of creation,” said Fr. Merz.
From the rooftop could be seen the most iconic buildings on the University of Missouri campus, along with the twin smokestacks of the campus powerplant.
“Good business”
The parish raised about $260,000 to pay for the solar panels and a new roof.
“Between donations and the money we had on deposit with the diocese, we didn’t need to take on any debt for this,” said Fr. Merz.
Additional funding included a $50,000 grant from the city of Columbia and about $95,000 in clean energy incentives from the federal government.
Was the goal to save money or go easier on the environment?
“Both!” Fr. Merz stated. “Pope Francis urged us all to take better care of creation, but it’s also good business.”
The parish spends about $30,000 a year on electricity.
“We calculate that this will offset about two-thirds of that, so we hope to save $20,000 a year,” he said. “In terms of return on investment, we’ve determined that about 10 years from now will be the break-even point.”
The panels and related equipment for converting sunlight into electricity and channeling it into the building are designed to last for 30 to 40 years.
“So, after we break even, all of that money we save can be spent on ministries and outreach,” said Fr. Merz.
“And by putting less pressure on the environment, we’re also leaving a better home for the same people we’re trying to evangelize,” he said.
Making it work
The panels and related equipment are from Dogwood Solar, which is owned by Dan Shifley, a member of neighboring Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Columbia.
“He gave us a great discount from his normal price,” Fr. Merz noted.
The priest started investigating the benefits of solar power during his previous assignment as pastor of St. George Parish in Linn and Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Frankenstein.
“At that time, doing something like this would have been a little more financially risky,” he recalled.
Then, Mr. Shifley told him about the available incentives.
“That really made it financially feasible,” said Fr. Merz. “So, I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, but my finance councils were very cautious about it.”
After moving to Columbia, he saw that the roofs on the St. John Henry Newman building would eventually need to be replaced.
He pitched his idea to the finance council, mindful that it would be most economical to install the solar panels after installing a new roof.
“In fact, we’re convinced that the panels will help to protect the new roof and give it a longer life than we would have had otherwise,” he noted.
Questions answered and concerns addressed, the finance council advised him to move forward.
Parishioners gave generously to the combination roof and solar panel project.
Mr. Shifley said obtaining permits from the city and permission from the diocese went quickly and painlessly.
A structural engineer studied the roof to make sure it could handle the weight of the panels.
Mr. Shifley’s employees moved equipment to the church property to lift the panels onto the roof.
“Even with some weather delays and some material delays, it came together quite well,” he said. “And more importantly, everybody was safe. And now, it’s producing power.”
Subject to proof
Some parishioners needed some extra convincing.
“I’m hoping that in another month or so, when we start to get our bills and see a substantial cost reduction, everyone will be sold on it,” said Fr. Merz.
He added: “One very generous member of the parish who was not in favor of installing the panels came up to me last week and said, ‘I’m praying that they work well.’”
If at any time the parish uses less power than the panels generate, the extra energy will go back into the city’s power grid to provide electricity to other customers, and the parish will receive a credit for it.
Meanwhile, using an online app, the parish can easily keep track of how much extra carbon dioxide it’s keeping out of the atmosphere by using solar power instead of electricity generated with coal and other fuels.
“So, we can quantify both the financial and the ecological savings,” said Fr. Merz.
Under the sun
Fr. Merz is confident that other parishes, even smaller ones, could reap the benefits of solar power.
“You get as much sun everywhere else in the diocese as you get here!” he said.
He pointed out that with the proliferation of technology and increasing demand for electricity, costs could be on their way up.
“If that happens, it will become even more economical to do solar energy,” he said.
It does require an up-front investment.
“But if you choose to make that investment, you’re ultimately going to pay less for power over the life of the system,” said Fr. Merz. “And then once it’s paid for itself through those savings, it’s generating free power for you.”
He noted that the panels are durable and weather-resistant, so even a severe hailstorm shouldn’t be enough to damage them.
The system works all year, even in the dead of winter, except when there’s snow accumulated on the panels.
It works best under clear, sunny skies.
“An overcast sky still produces power,” said Mr. Shifley, “just a bit less than when it’s sunny or when you have a mix of clouds and sun.”
Walking on sunshine
“Let there be light!” said Fr. Merz as he threw the switch after blessing the solar panels.
He said praying over the system and setting it aside for God’s purposes was important.
“We want to bring everything under the lordship of Christ,” he said, “including the work of our hands. And we want to make sure that the work of our hands is good and is doing good things.”
He said he now prays: “Let it rain at night and shine in the day.”
“I thank the Lord for the sun even more now,” he added.
