In Earth Day ceremony, church switches on its solar-powered electrical system

Declaring New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church’s new solar energy system “fully operational and in service,” Lead Pastor William Edward Thomas Jr. ceremonially flipped a switch turning on a light to symbolize the church’s new electrical energy source. 

New Bethel AME in Lithonia celebrated Earth Day on April 22 by officially becoming one of the first faith communities in the state to install both a solar electrical system and battery storage on its campus. It also is the first commercial pilot participant to pursue battery storage with Georgia BRIGHT and Capital Good Fund, nonprofit partners that allow other nonprofit organizations and homeowners to access solar energy without upfront costs by leveraging federal tax credits, grants, and bulk purchasing.   

Working with other nonprofit organizations, including Hive Fund, and Black Voters Matter, the project was financed with zero up-front cost to the congregation. 

The project is part of a broader effort by the AME Sixth District and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) to transform congregations into “resilience hubs.”  

GIPL is a nonprofit organization created to inspire and equip “communities of faith to organize, implement practical climate solutions, and advocate across Georgia on issues of climate change, environmental justice, and community resilience,” according to its website. 

“Equipped with not only solar and battery storage but also bidirectional electric vehicle charging stations, congregations are able to provide communities with places to power emergency response vehicles, store essential medicines, and seek shelter during inclement weather and climate disasters,” according to an announcement from the church. 

Alicia Brown, director of Georgia BRIGHT, said “New Bethel AME Church is demonstrating extraordinary leadership as the first Georgia BRIGHT Communities participant to integrate battery storage with their solar system…cutting costs and increasing resilience for their congregants and the surrounding communities.” 

“This project represents our commitment to being good stewards of creation and providing for our community in tangible ways,” Thomas said. “When the lights go out in the neighborhood, we want New Bethel to be a place where people know they can come for safety and support. That’s what our church is called to do.” 

Additionally, the 70.11-kilowatt solar energy system with 41-kilowatt battery storage is expected to generate 80 percent of the church’s annual energy needs, saving the church more than $15,000 annually in utility costs, according to the announcement, which adds, “Over the system’s lifetime, it will prevent the release of more than 1,608 tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of removing 357 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road.” 

“Historically, the AME Church has served as a beacon of hope and a safe haven for communities in times of crisis,” Bishop Michael Leon Mitchell, presiding prelate of the Sixth District AME Church in Georgia, commented in the announcement. “In becoming resilience hubs, our churches are honoring that legacy while preparing for the climate challenges of tomorrow. This is about keeping our sacred call to serve and care for our neighbors alive.” 

Hannah Shultz, GIPL’s program director, said, “This installation goes beyond clean energy—it’s about building the infrastructure our communities need to weather the storms ahead, literally and figuratively. The AME church is showing Georgia what’s possible when faith communities embrace both practical resource stewardship and climate justice.”  

There are currently 12 congregations enrolled in the pilot program with the AME Sixth District and GIPL, and additional funding has recently been secured to support implementation at four of those congregations, according to the announcement, which said the Sixth District’s 482 churches have the combined potential to generate approximately 34 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year—enough power to supply more than 3,000 households annually.  

“Installing solar and battery storage at New Bethel AME is more than an energy project. It’s a powerful statement about the kind of future we’re building together.” said Roji Aldashi, CEO of Better Tomorrow Solar. “It is both inspiring and deeply meaningful to see the Church lead by example in its commitment to environmental stewardship” 

To further support the community’s green transition, Better Tomorrow Solar, an Atlanta-based solar products company, provided the church with two dual Level II EV chargers, which will also power the community’s electric vehicles with power from the sun, according to the announcement.