Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington

2 MW in size, with nearly 5,000 solar panels

Photo credit: Jay Stern/Landmark Photography

As project developer, Mission Energy helped design and implement the largest solar ground array for construction to-date in DC.

Modeling ecological stewardship, the project includes a pollinator field underneath the solar ground array and adds nearly 100 evergreen and deciduous tress around the property to reduce storm water runoff.

Annual energy cost savings enhances Catholic Charities’ mission work, such as offering relief to the homeless, medical and dental care to the poor, services for the mentally ill, and education and job opportunities for young people with developmental differences.

Project Summary

Organization: Catholic Charities – Archdiocese of Washington DC (CC-ADW)

Location: 14 acres surrounding the Gift of Peace house and convent in Northeast Washington, DC

CHALLENGE

CC-ADW was seeking ways to utilize available land for their plot in north-east Washington, just about four miles from the Capitol. The organization wanted to respond directly to Pope Francis’s call to action in Laudato Si and source energy for their buildings in a more environmentally friendly way, however they lacked expertise and understanding of where to begin with exploring the possible benefits of solar, and there was no precedent within the Archdiocese for developing and generating solar power.

ANALYSIS

Initial analysis and research showed that making use of available land with a large ground solar array could substantially reduce operating costs for the organization. Mission Energy composed multiple design and financial models to help CC-ADW determine a path forward. Incorporating solar incentives available through the District of Columbia and Pepco, the design was optimized to offset their properties’ energy needs, as well as generate solar credits as income that could support their programs and services.

STRATEGY

• Placed CC-ADW with a 3rd party investor and secured the capital that paid for the entire construction

• Vetted competitive bids among solar contractors and helped select Solar Energy Services as the installer

• Helped CC-ADW negotiate the Power Purchase Agreement with the investor

• Served as Project Manager for CC-ADW through the beginning of construction

RESULTS

• The proceeds will cover nearly all of the energy costs of Catholic Charities’ 12 properties in the District of Columbia and also fund maintenance costs for the Gift of Peace building

• Serves as an example of what is possible when public, private, religious, and community groups work together to accomplish a common goal of environmental and community benefits

• Solar energy produced by the system is expected to offset nearly 3,400 tons of CO2 emissions per year, the equivalent of 735 cars on average in one year.

IN THE NEWS

• Washington Business Journal: Catholic Charities teams with Ohio firm to build one of D.C.'s largest solar arrays

• National Catholic Reporter: Catholic Charities to build D.C.'s largest solar array

• The Washington Post: A field in D.C. will soon be home to 5,000 solar panels. It’s all because of local Catholic groups — and a message from the pope.

• WAMU: Local Faith Organizations Lead The Charge For Solar

• America Magazine: The eco-friendly project that provides solar power to Catholic institutions - at no cost

• Aleteia: D.C. Catholic Charities to be powered by massive 5-acre solar power installation

• Catholic Standard: Catholic Charities’ solar array blessed, seen as model for ecological action by church groups

• Catholic Charities USA Magazine: Protecting the gift of nature yields win-win for agency

LINKS

• Press Release: July 10, 2019

• Blog Post: Solar Pollinator Begins to Grow