Congregations
Delaware congregations are shining the light on climate solutions by installing solar!
Delaware Interfaith Power and Light has created this solar map for our multi-faith religious institutions who are walking the talk and following the guidance of their traditions to protect the planet we all need to survive.
Interfaith Power & Light has a new Solar Financing Guide for Congregations. Find the guide and check out all the solar resources here.
Congregations below are generally arranged north to south.
Westminster Presbyterian Church
1502 West 13th Street, Wilmington
October 16, all day • Outside self-guided viewing
We own and maintain two buildings across the street from the main church on West 13th Street in Wilmington. These buildings are the home of separate 501(c)3 organizations whose missions are consistent with the goals and ideals of our church. There are two rooftop arrays; one array (Daughtry House, 32 panels, 9.6 kW) is on both a slanted roof and a flat roof and the second array (Burton House, 19 panels, 5.7 kW) is on another flat roof. These were installed by CMI in 2018.
A third array is anticipated for the largest flat roof of the main church. Other site features include a community garden. The church has replaced more than 660 fluorescent bulbs with lower wattage direct-wire LEDs. Main church electrical supply is from renewable sources.
Why we went solar: The church was fortunate to be able to purchase outright these solar panels and enjoy utility savings for decades. Westminster has been certified as an Earth Care Congregation by the Presbyterian Church (USA) for the 11th consecutive year. This honor means we exhibit exceptional leadership in protecting God’s creation and are good stewards of earth’s resources through our worship, education, outreach and advocacy. We also hope to inspire others to use renewable energy.
Contact: Roger Reinicker, 302-528-6456
I am happy to answer questions about our solar experience and can be contacted by email or phone, 10am to 4pm on October 16
Episcopal Diocese of Delaware
913 Wilson Road, Wilmington
October 16, all day • Outside self-guided viewing
46 kW DC rooftop installation that produces 50,000 kWh annually. Installed by Clean Energy USA.
Contact: John Sertich
New Ark United Church of Christ
300 East Main Street, Newark
October 16 @ all day • Outside self-guided viewing
Our 7.9 kW array was commissioned in 2010, with 36 Schuco MPE 220 PSO4 solar panels.
Why we went solar: We wanted to show our community that we are an Earth-Wise congregation and we care about the environment.
Contact: David Kingsbury
Newark United Methodist Church
69 East Main Street, Newark
October 16, all day • Outside self-guided viewing
Our solar system was installed by KW Solar Solutions Inc. of Elkton, Maryland, in September 2015. The system was interconnected with our electric utility three years later. There are three arrays mounted on a flat roof surface that consist of 43, 12, and 53 Sunmodule Plus SW 285 mono panels manufactured by SolarWorld in Oregon. In 2020 we produced 37,156 kWh; our minimum was in December (1,417 kWh) and our maximum in July (4,572 kWh).
Why we went solar: To help the environment.
Contact: Jo Anne Deshon
St. Thomas Episcopal Parish
276 South College Avenue, Newark
October 16, all day • Outside self-guided viewing
18 kW DC roof-mounted system. Produces 0ver 23,000 kWh annually. Installed by Clean Energy USA.
Contact: John Sertich
Islamic Society of Delaware
28 Salem Church Road, Newark
October 16, all day • Outside self-guided viewing
72 kW DC rooftop installation that produces 90,000 kWh annually. Installed by Clean Energy USA.
Contact: John Sertich
Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware
30486 Lewes Georgetown Road, Lewes
October 16, 1:00–3:00 p.m. • In-person viewing with host
We adapted a former residential property for our church facility and incorporated a 105-panel rooftop array (installed by Clean Energy USA) as part of our sanctuary's new construction. The installation was completed in September 2016 and has been generating approximately 30,000 kWh annually. We paid close attention to energy usage in construction and renovation with high-efficiency HVAC, LED lighting, and state-of-the-art construction materials and techniques. Our six-acre site just west of Lewes on Route 9 is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. We will provide a guided open house with poster and PowerPoint presentation materials.
Why we went solar: Our initial goal in our system design with Clean Energy USA was to avoid our utility's commercial "demand tariff." Our system was designed to meet 80% of anticipated usage, but with ongoing conservation efforts we have operated at "net zero" for the past three years. With net-zero, our utility billing is reduced to a fixed monthly "customer charge" (approx. $16), which simplifies our annual budget process.
Contact: Gary Schmidt
St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church
152 Tulip Drive, Lewes
October 16, all day • Outside self-guided viewing
211 kW DC rooftop installation that produces approximately 215,000 kWh annually. Installed by Clean Energy USA.
Contact: John Sertich
Midway Assembly of God
34677 Old Postal Lane, Lewes
October 16, all day • Outside self-guided viewing
31 kW DC rooftop installation that produces 37,000 kWh annually. Installed by Clean Energy USA.
Contact: John Sertich
Camp Arrowhead
35143 Homestead Way, Lewes
October 16, all day • Outside self-guided viewing
80 kW DC rooftop installation on nature center and main community center buildings that produces 90,000 kWh annually. Installed by Clean Energy USA.
Contact: John Sertich
Lutheran Church of Our Savior
20276 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach
October 16, all day • Outside self-guided viewing
43 kW DC rooftop installation that produces approximately 50,000 kWh annually. Installed by Clean Energy USA.
Contact: John Sertich