Due to generous early donations, we are well on our way to our fundraiser goal of $40,000 for our roof improvements and the solar project. Want to invest in renewable energy? Let’s get “MO Power!”

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SOLAR PROJECT UPDATE – July 2025

Every year, the Mount Olivet building uses 200,000 Kilowatt – Hours (KWH) of electricity at a cost of $30,000. It’s been a dream of council for some time to lower our carbon footprint by generating our own electricity. In June 2025, Mount Olivet entered into an agreement with Lake Street Solar (LSS) to install solar panels to provide 123 Kilowatts (64% of Mount Olivet’s electrical need). As LSS moved into the detailed design and permitting phase, they discovered that the original design would not be able to deliver the promised power due to building code requirements that require setbacks of solar panels from the roof edge. In addition, the solar industry is facing Federal cutbacks and solar tax credits will sunset by the end of the year. This is placing high demand for solar panels as people scramble to get solar projects completed this year.

In order to honor the contract and provide the amount of power that was originally intended, LSS is recommending a revised design with 330 solar panels, (instead of the original 212 panels) and expand the placement of panels to include the Community Room and Sanctuary roofs. Also, LSS is recommending a change in solar panel suppliers in order to make sure that our project will not be delayed.

The revised design, shown below, will provide 137 KW (an 11% increase over the original design).

Under the revised design, the pricing will not change. LSS would receive the rebates, tax credits and tax benefits from depreciation. After 8 years, Mount Olivet would purchase the Solar System from LSS for $20,000 and would own all the electricity produced from solar for the remainder of the life of the panels (an additional 17 years). Before installation of the revised proposal, the Community Room and Sanctuary roof shingles would need to be replaced. This replacement was anticipated to occur in 2026 instead of this year. The council’s request is that congregational approval be given to borrow $60,000 from reserves to fund new shingles for the Community Room and Sanctuary roof areas this year. The council would then develop a budget to pay back $60,000 into reserves in 2026. This approval would mean that all of Mount Olivet’s roof system will be new and completed a year earlier than planned. In addition, the larger solar design is expected to save Mount Olivet an additional $34,000 in electrical costs compared to the original design (present value of additional electrical savings for years 9 to 25).

The project schedule is as follows:

• August 10, 2025 – Congregation Approval of Shingle Project.

• August to October 2025 – LSS design and permitting.

• September 2025 – Mount Olivet installs new shingles on Community Room and Sanctuary.

• November/December 2025 - Solar panel installation.

• December 2025 - Solar production begins.

• 2026 to 2033 Mount Olivet purchases solar electricity at a discounted rate from LSS.

• 2034 Mount Olivet purchases the solar system from LSS and begins generating our own

electricity.

Contact Ron Frehner for more information here