The diocese of Vermont in the US-based Episcopal Church has acquired a
$1 million (USD, approximately £825,763 GBP) solar array farm at its
headquarters in Rock Point, Burlington.
The 35-tracker 147 kW solar away
was installed five years ago by AllEarth Renewables and was acquired by
the diocese for $269,700.
It will provide more-than-enough energy to power the diocese’s
146-acre facility at Rock Point, which in addition to the diocesan
offices, includes the Rock Point School, the Bishop Booth Conference
Centre, and the bishop’s house.
Additional electricity generated by the
farm will provide an annual estimated income of $40,000.
The funds used to purchase the solar farm came from early
contributions to the Rock Point Partnership Campaign, topped up with a
loan from the Bishop Butterfield Loan Fund.
Once the loan is paid off,
the income from the farm’s excess electricity will be used to support
the diocese’s organisations based at Rock Point.
The Bishop of Vermont, Thomas C Ely, said that the diocese’s long
term goal was to purchase, rather than lease, the facility when it was
built five years ago. “We are glad to have achieved that goal on the
fifth anniversary of the installation,” he said.
“Care for the environment is an important aspect of our message in
the Jesus Movement. The Episcopal Church in Vermont remains committed to
environmental stewardship not only in Rock Point but also throughout
the wider community,” Bishop Thomas said.