If you lead a church, school, or non-profit in Maryland, you are probably watching your electricity bills climb every year. What if I told you there is a way to cut those costs significantly, demonstrate environmental stewardship to your congregation, and do it all with zero money out of pocket?
The Problem: Rising Energy Costs Are Eating Into Mission Budgets
Every dollar your church or non-profit spends on electricity is a dollar that does not go toward your mission. Youth programs, community outreach, food pantries, building maintenance – all of these compete for limited funds. And with utility rates in Maryland rising 3-5% annually, that electric bill is only going to get bigger.
For a mid-sized church with a $2,000 monthly electricity bill, that means over the next 25 years you will spend more than $800,000 on electricity alone (accounting for rate increases). That is an enormous amount of money flowing straight out of your ministry and into the utility company.
The Solution: $0 Down Solar Through Power Purchase Agreements
Here is the good news: churches and non-profits can go solar without spending a single dollar upfront. The mechanism is called a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), and it works like this:
1. A solar company installs panels on your roof at no cost to you. They own the system and are responsible for all maintenance and monitoring.
2. You buy the electricity those panels produce at a rate lower than what you currently pay your utility. On day one, your electricity costs go down.
3. Your rate is locked in for the term of the agreement. While utility rates continue to climb year after year, your solar rate stays predictable and stable. The gap between what you would have paid and what you actually pay grows wider every year – meaning your savings increase over time.
The Tax Credit Breakthrough: Direct Pay
For decades, the federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was only available to entities that owed federal income taxes. Since most churches and non-profits are tax-exempt, they could not claim the credit directly. This put them at a serious disadvantage.
That changed with the Inflation Reduction Act, which introduced Direct Pay for tax-exempt organizations. Under Direct Pay, non-profits, churches, schools, tribal governments, and other tax-exempt entities can receive the ITC as a direct cash payment from the IRS – no tax liability required.
The base credit is 30% of the total system cost, but with available bonus adders (domestic content, energy communities, low-income), the effective credit can reach 50-60% of the project cost. This makes the economics of commercial solar for churches better than they have ever been.
Creation Care: A Biblical Mandate
Beyond the financial benefits, there is a powerful spiritual dimension to going solar as a faith community. The concept of “Creation care” – the responsibility to be good stewards of the earth God has given us – is deeply rooted in scripture. From Genesis 2:15 (“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it”) to Psalm 24:1 (“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it”), the call to protect and preserve the natural world is clear.
When a church puts solar panels on its roof, it makes a visible, tangible statement to its congregation and community: we practice what we preach. We are not just talking about stewardship from the pulpit – we are investing in clean energy and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
Why Jackie Is Passionate About Solar for Churches
Jackie Kelly is deeply rooted in the Baltimore-area faith community. As a proud Business Impact Partner with Bright FM (WRBS 95.1), Baltimore’s Christian radio station, she has seen firsthand how churches struggle with rising operational costs while trying to maximize their mission impact.
She has also seen how solar can free up tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a system – money that can be redirected to youth programs, community outreach, food banks, and mission work. Her own 30-year commitment to The GOD’S CHILD Project in Guatemala is fueled by this same principle: energy independence is not a luxury, it is a catalyst for mission.
Ready to Explore Solar for Your Church or Non-Profit?
Jackie works with commercial solar installers who specialize in faith-based and non-profit projects. She handles the entire process – from initial feasibility analysis to final inspection – so your leadership team can focus on what matters most: your mission.
The first step is a simple conversation. Jackie will review your electric bills, assess your roof, and give you an honest assessment of whether solar makes sense for your organization. If it does, she will walk you through every option and help you choose the path that saves the most money with the least risk.
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