Dear Friends,

As we approach the close of a challenging year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your support, encouragement, and belief in the work we do. This season naturally invites reflection—and when I look back on the progress we’ve made together, I’m filled with hope for the future.

This year, Solar Faithful has:

• Effectively doubled the number of faith-based organizations with solar in Michigan since our inception.
• Launched our congregant lending program, giving individuals from all walks of life access to participating in the clean energy transition.
• Partnered on an EPA Community Change Grant, beginning to support food pantries and soup kitchens in Detroit to become resiliency centers (see Project Spotlight).

The holiday season is a reminder of the light we are called to bring into the world. Through solar energy, we’re helping houses of worship lower their energy costs so they can invest more deeply in feeding families, supporting youth, providing shelter, and strengthening their neighborhoods. Your generosity—whether through learning, sharing, donating, or partnering—makes that possible.

Thank you for being a part of this mission. Your commitment inspires us every day. May this season bring you peace, joy, and renewal. And may the coming year be filled with bright possibilities—for you, your community, and the world we share.

With warm holiday wishes and deep gratitude,

Rob Rafson
Founder & Executive Director

WATT MATTERS

Faith-driven stories lighting the way to a cleaner future.

In every edition of WATT Matters, we shine a light on the real-life impact of clean energy in faith-based communities. These stories showcase more than just solar panels—they highlight the spirit of people helping people, creative approaches to financing, and how congregations are leading by example in stewardship, sustainability, and service. From congregation rooftops to community gardens, each project reminds us that when faith and clean energy come together, the results are nothing short of transformational.

Maine Community Solar Project

In partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, Solar Faithful is currently supporting a Community Solar Project in Fairfield, Maine. Community Solar is an energy program where multiple residents within a geographic area subscribe to a shared, centralized solar panel system rather than having panels installed on their own property. A primary goal of Solar Faithful’s Community Solar program is to make the benefits of clean energy accessible to people of faith and low-income community members.

Solar Faithful Director of Strategic Initiatives and Board Member, Rev. Richard Killmer, is spearheading this initiative. A New Jersey native now living in Maine, Rev. Killmer has this to say:

“Community solar is an important tool for bringing about a world electrified by renewable energy. Michigan does not have enabling legislation to allow non-utilities to build them. Maine does have such enabling legislation. Solar Faithful is building a community solar farm in Fairfield, Maine, which will serve 150 congregants. It will provide a model for the religious community across the country both as a mission that religious bodies can undertake and a witness to governments about what is now needed by every country on this planet.”

For residents who live in Maine, our partner, PowerMarket, is connecting residents’ utility accounts to a solar project in their electric utility region in a few simple steps:

1. Residents join (at no cost) a shared renewable project in their community, which pumps clean energy into the local power grid.
2. Residents continue to receive electricity from their utility company without installing any equipment.
3. Residents receive a credit on their electric bill as the project produces clean energy, saving up to 15% on electricity costs, guaranteed.

Our Fairfield, Maine, community solar project allows participants to receive all the benefits of renewable energy without the cost or hassle of installing panels on their own property. One hundred percent of the project’s clean energy goes into the local grid system, is used by the community, and saves participants money.

The congregation with the most enrollees will receive a $1,000 donation!

If you are a Maine resident, or know people who may be interested, please call (646) 566-3758 or send an email to su*******@*********et.io with any questions or to sign up.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

On the Bright Side will shine a light on helpful and timely topics—from solar trends and green technology to clean energy tips and tools for faith communities. We’ll share what’s new, what’s working, and how your congregation can stay informed and inspired.

Solar Tax Credits

The 2025 Congressional budget has moved up the sunset of the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) from 2032 to 2027. The ITC provides 30% of solar project costs, including panels, inverters, labor, and even energy storage. Through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, nonprofits, including houses of worship, can now avail themselves of these tax benefits.

Although the timeline for this incentive has decreased, there are still two ways to secure the 30%:

1. Start construction by July 4, 2026. This offers four years to complete the project.
2. Finish and activate your system by December 31, 2027. This requires a shorter construction window, more domestic content, and provides the same incentive.

What You Should Do Now

• Assess feasibility—send us your electric bill, and we will help review your energy needs and site requirements.
• Start permitting early—delays here are the most common holdup.
• Lock in equipment and labor—avoid price hikes and supply bottlenecks as deadlines near.

Contact us if you would like to discuss this further so we can help you navigate these changes and assess your options.

Disclaimer: We are not tax advisors, and rules may shift or develop further. Consult a tax professional for guidance tailored to your situation. Solar Faithful is neither responsible for nor can guarantee governmental actions.