Let’s Go Solar Update - September 2025

Solar System Energy Production and Financial Information

Church of the Red Rocks received Permission to Operate from APS on June 17, 2025. During the past 97 days of energy production, our 99 solar panels and inverters have produced 30.6 MWh of electricity, an average of over 300 kWh per day. For fans of clean air, that translates to the equivalent of the removal of 21.3 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Our APS bills during June, July, and August of 2025 have been reduced by $3,212 compared to the same three months of 2024. Based on our solar system design specifications from Rooftop Solar, an annual savings of $12,000 had been projected. We are on target to achieve that projection.

Because the CRR system was put into active service in 2025, we believe that the church will be eligible for the full Federal ITC Rebates, likely within the range of $46,000 to $61,000. Penny Beers, CRR Treasurer and Ed Bowersox, FEAM member, are working with expert help on the complex federal forms required to claim the rebates.

Thanks to the congregation's decision to use church resources to front the investment in our solar system, and everyone who donated to the CRR Solar System Fund Drive, Church of the Red Rocks will be producing clean energy and saving money on our energy bills for many years to come.

In June, we invited persons to contribute an additional gift to this project and offered a “matching plan.”  Any money received would be “matched” equally so it would double each gift.  Several persons contributed to the “match” …. and many others responded with additional gifts.  And so we raised an additional $ 6,704.50 toward our goal of $75,000.  To date, we have received pledges or gifts totaling $58,053 toward our goal of $75,000.  

Please note that the full cost of the solar project was $150,000. with the expectation that half of that would come back to us with government incentives.  We are still hoping to get most of that … and are in the process of applying this fall.  The bill for purchase and installation has been fully paid to Rooftop Solar using the collected funds and from the Parking Lot Money.  Money that comes in now or in the future … or from government rebates … will go back into the Parking Lot Fund.

If you wish to give gifts toward this project, we are more than grateful to receive them.  And thank you for your faithful and generous giving to this project.

Margaret Gramley, Ed Bowersox and Dave Stabenfeldt 

Solar Fund Committee