About 60% of the electricity produced in the U.S. is generated by burning fossil fuels, mostly natural gas, and to lesser extents coal and petroleum. Some electricity is also produced using renewable energies such as solar and hydropower, and some is produced using nuclear energy. As we have seen, electricity rates have gone up significantly for a variety of reasons.
Enter the partnership of The Meetinghouse, the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network (IREJN), and Earthlight Technologies. Previous tax credits for residential solar installations were allowed to expire at the end of 2025, but with this partnership you can get a rebate up to $1500 for a limited time. Until June 30th, if you choose to install solar panels on your home through Earthlight Technologies you will receive a $1000 rebate. If you choose to add a battery storage unit to those solar panels or an existing installation, you will receive a $500 rebate. As part of the partnership, The Meetinghouse will receive a $1000 donation from Earthlight Technologies for each installation, which will be used to preserve The Meetinghouse campus.
If you get a battery storage unit to accompany a solar installation, the battery will collect the excess solar energy the panels produce during the day, and feed the stored electricity into your system at night, so you are pulling less from the electric grid. The battery will also provide electricity for your home during a power failure.
Earthlight Technologies is a family-owned business based in Ellington, CT. They have done these solar blitzes before, most recently in the Essex, CT area. They service Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Oregon. The rebate flyer with the QR code can be found here. It will also be in the weekly Thursday email that comes from The Meetinghouse during the solar promotion time period. When you scan the QR code to set up a consultation, you will input your contact information and then if you scan down, you can click Ridgebury Congregational Church as the donation beneficiary. If you determine that solar makes sense for your home, Earthlight provides several options whether you choose to lease or purchase the equipment, so you can decide what makes the best financial sense for you.
Earthlight and IREJN are holding a few virtual Q&A sessions during the rebate time period that you can participate in if you have general questions:
- Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 pm – Register for May 21
- Tuesday, Jun 9 at 7:00 pm – Register for June 9
- Thursday, June 25 at 7:00 pm – Register for June 25
This offer can be passed on to anyone in Earthlight’s service area; just make sure they check off Ridgebury Congregational on the consultation form.
Think of it, save significant money on your electric bills, get a nice rebate, and be a good environmental steward at the same time. That’s a win-win-win!
Heather Cochrane
Board President
