{"id":8308,"date":"2026-10-05T15:14:45","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T22:14:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olysol.org\/?post_type=project&p=8308"},"modified":"2026-10-06T12:12:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T19:12:37","slug":"united-churches-of-olympia","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/olysol.org\/es\/project\/united-churches-of-olympia\/","title":{"rendered":"United Churches of Olympia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Church:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The <\/span>United Churches of Olympia<\/span><\/a> is a liberal, progressive church located between the state capitol and downtown Olympia. United Churches is excited to demonstrate that solar energy generation is beneficial, clean, and reliable to the city\u2019s visitors. They hope this project will inspire other churches and organizations to consider installing solar as well.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The project includes 108 solar panels across the building\u2019s roof, as well as a battery storage system and electric vehicle charging station. Designed and installed by <\/span>South Sound Solar<\/span><\/a>, the 42.4 kW system is capable of producing 42,000 kilowatt-hours per year. The project reduces the church’s energy bill and strengthens the community\u2019s emergency preparedness and sustainable infrastructure.<\/span><\/p>

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Special thanks to Dana Leavitt, South Sound Solar, Olympia Community Solar, ChemStore, Franklin Batteries, and the WA Department of Commerce. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The solar project will reduce the church\u2019s annual energy burden by <\/span>$12,180<\/b> within the first year. This will save United Churches of Olympia over <\/span>$619,980<\/b> on power costs across the next 30 years, dollars which can instead support the church\u2019s mission and ministry in Olympia and Thurston County. The installation is projected to produce <\/span>59,000 kWhs per year<\/b> of clean, renewable electricity. According to the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s greenhouse gas equivalencies, it will offset 94,252 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. That is equivalent to the amount of carbon captured by 42.9 acres of U.S. forest land every year, or 12.2 homes\u2019 electricity use for one year.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The solar project will reduce the church\u2019s annual energy burden by <\/span>$12,180<\/b> within the first year. This will save United Churches of Olympia over <\/span>$619,980<\/b> on power costs across the next 30 years, dollars which can instead support the church\u2019s mission and ministry in Olympia and Thurston County. The installation is projected to produce <\/span>59,000 kWhs per year<\/b> of clean, renewable electricity. According to the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s greenhouse gas equivalencies, it will offset 94,252 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. That is equivalent to the amount of carbon captured by 42.9 acres of U.S. forest land every year, or 12.2 homes\u2019 electricity use for one year.<\/span><\/p>

In addition, the battery storage system will continue to power the church\u2019s essential appliances during grid outages, showcasing clean energy\u2019s usefulness in emergencies.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\u201c<\/span><\/i>We\u2019re proud to support this collaborative project that has resulted in the City of Olympia\u2019s first commissioned battery energy storage system. The solar and batteries will support the church and its shelter for decades to come.<\/span><\/i>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>

-Mason Rolph, Executive Director of Olympia Community Solar.<\/i>\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Olympia Community Solar<\/span> supported United Churches of Olympia by assisting with their request for proposal process and helping to select South Sound Solar as a trusted installer.<\/span><\/p>

On September 15, 2026, United Churches of Olympia held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the solar and battery project.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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