Put Your Faith Into Action

The Passionist provinces are working with Catholic Energies, an initiative of the Washington-based Catholic Climate Covenant, which helps Catholic facility owners with starting solar energy projects….

Catholic Energies has converted three of the Passionist order's sites in New York, West Hartford, Connecticut, and — just since this past September — San Juan, Puerto Rico.

"We have worked closely with Catholic Energies, because they run the whole project," O'Shea said. "We contribute the land — or make it available to them — (for) potential construction, and provide the actual places to put the panels, which in this instance were our monastery's car port, the rooftop of our school and an open field."

New guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) from the Treasury Department and IRS was recently released for tax-exempt businesses to implement solar and storage projects, reinforcing the expanded opportunities for nonprofits to tap into the benefits of renewable energy projects.

In this issue:

• Inflation Reduction Act offers new opportunities for Catholic organizations seeking solar

• Solar installations nearing completion for The Order of the Passionists properties in New York and Puerto Rico

• The Catholic Diocese of Richmond expands its solar portfolio

• Catholic Energies developing solar projects for Ascension Living real estate in Washington DC and Illinois

• Nativity Catholic Church in Burke, VA featured as a "Cool Congregation" by Interfaith Power & Light

• and more…

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes many changes that make it easier for Catholic organizations to switch to solar energy for their facilities.

The national average residential electricity rate was up 8 percent in January from a year earlier, the biggest annual increase in more than a decade. The latest figures, from February, show an almost 4 percent annual rise, reaching the highest level for that month and approaching summer rates, which are generally the most expensive. In Florida, Hawaii, Illinois and New York, rates are up about 15 percent, according to the Energy Department’s latest figures.

A conversation about the related yet distinct missions of Catholic Climate Covenant and Laudato Si' Movement.

In this issue:

• Looking back at 2021

• 542 kW solar and other improvements at Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada completed December 2021

• Catholic opportunities for solar growth surge after Illinois passes clean energy legislation

• Catholic hospitals and healthcare facilities explore solar to alleviate high electricity demand costs

• Catholic women’s organizations lead by example implementing solar for their facilities

• and more…