First Lutheran-Aitkin has the following mission statement: “With God’s love, we embrace one another, our neighbors and all creation”. The third pillar of this statement (“all creation”) led to the formation of a Creation Care Ministry and its approval by our church council in 2014. The next year, a Creation Care Covenant was developed and approved by our council. Based on this congregational foundation, our Property and Creation Care Ministries began to work together with the aim of reducing First Lutheran’s environmental impacts.

Our first joint project was to conduct 2 environmental audits in 2016, one by a private consultant and one by a free MN Pollution Control Agency program (RETAP). These audits recommended numerous changes to our electric, heat and water systems, some of which were accomplished by our Property Ministry over the next few years, including: replacing most incandescent and fluorescent lighting with LED’s; installing motion sensors in hallways and restrooms; replacing old toilets with more water-efficient models; and, reducing the number of water heaters and heaters in entrances. These changes have provided a 17% reduction in electricity consumption; a 35% reduction in electrical demand charges; and a 68% reduction in water consumption.

In 2018, The Creation Care Ministry suggested that the Property Ministry request an assessment of installing solar panels at the Church. Property contacted a solar contractor and for $250 they did an assessment and submitted a proposal for a solar array at a cost of $93,000 with a payback of 30 years. We felt that the proposal was not feasible at that time.

In 2022, Bob Munneke of the Creation Care Ministry contacted a solar developer out of Brainerd to work with us to develop a proposal for solar. At that time, there was a 30% tax rebate incentive to install solar but since churches are tax exempt, we were not eligible for this incentive. Their proposal at that time was to put together a group of investors to install a solar array for us, they would get the tax incentive, and the church would get the energy produced to offset our electrical costs. But there were too many hoops to jump through on this proposal so we did not pursue it further.

Then new legislation changed the incentives and it included rebates for Churches. The first proposal we received under the new rebates was for $135,300 less incentives of $54,120 for a net system cost of $81,180. Other solar companies were contacted for proposals. Most were of similar design and costs, still more than we felt we could afford.

So, back to the solar developer in Brainerd. In late July of 2024, he brought over a solar contractor from Brainerd. We met in the south parking lot and discussed what we might do. They brought back a proposal for 52 panels with a cost of about $62,000, with incentives of about $24,000. This proposal seemed like one we could put together and afford but it wasn’t until we held a meeting in November of those members who were interested solar that we got serious in proceeding.

At that meeting, one member mentioned that we probably could get the funds needed from older members who have funds available from Required Minimum Distributions from various investments. With that, one member eventually made the first “pledge” commitment and began contacting others for “pledges”.

By the Annual Congregational Meeting in February, we had made progress but were not ready to seek approval from the Congregation for the solar array. We discussed the proposal at the meeting, how we were planning to fund the proposal and our expected $3,200 reduction in annual electricity costs.

Finally, we received commitments totaling $54,750 including 18 member contributions, a $2,000 EcoFaith micro-grant, and a $4,000 grant from our Mission Endowment fund. Then we were ready to seek approval from the Council and the Congregation. A special Congregation meeting was held on June 8^th and the proposal was approved after some discussion.

By June 9^th we had sufficient funds to sign the contract and pay $30,600 as a 50% downpayment.

The contractor has the necessary application is process, materials ordered, and we are fortunate that the solar array will be in service by the end of the year to qualify for the 30% rebate.