A church installation by Ipsun Solar.
The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Sixth District announced a new program to create microgrids at churches across Georgia, starting with a goal of installing five systems by 2026.
Comprising all the AME churches in the state of Georgia — 482 church locations that could eventually deploy microgrids to boost community resilience and energy independence — the Sixth District’s initiative marks a significant step in the AME Church’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.
Since 2023, the Sixth District has been developing this innovative program, which includes the installation of solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, battery storage systems and implementing energy efficiency measures. The program also introduces bidirectional charging technology, allowing church facilities to serve as energy hubs and resiliency centers for their communities, where community members can charge medical equipment, store medicines and seek shelter in an emergency.
With a typical solar energy system projected to generate an average of 70 MWh annually per church, each system is expected to offset roughly 93.5% of the church’s annual energy usage, paying for itself after only eight years. Collectively, the Sixth District’s 482 church sites represent approximately 34 GWh of potential annual production capacity, enough energy to power over 3,000 homes.
The program builds upon the AME Church’s Climate Change Resolution, which committed the denomination to climate action and supporting policies that create healthy communities and a clean energy future. This resolution passed at the 50th General Conference in Philadelphia, outlined the biblical basis for addressing climate change and encouraged churches to take practical steps toward sustainability.
Georgia is particularly susceptible to utility outages associated with extreme weather events, including Hurricane Helene which in September 2024 knocked out power for over 1.3 million residents statewide. Some AME Church congregants were without electricity for over three weeks. Georgians’ electricity bills are also higher than the national average, with more rate increases expected.
To date, with the help of faith-based environmental nonprofit Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL), the Sixth District has completed feasibility studies for 13 churches and aims to have a total of 70 studies finished by the end of the year. This ambitious goal underscores the Church’s dedication to rapid and meaningful action on climate change.
To support implementation of this ambitious clean energy vision, the AME Church Sixth District will partner with Capital Good Fund, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and a federal grantee under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All program. Solar for All is a nationwide initiative to bring the benefits of solar energy to low- income and disadvantaged communities that have previously had less access to solar.
“Churches are critical partners in the clean energy transition,” said Alicia Brown, Director of the Georgia Solar for All program. “When the community has a need or a disaster strikes, they are often the first organizations to step up and offer help. We’re proud to partner with the AME Church on this bold initiative to build resilience hubs, train the next generation of solar workers and deliver meaningful savings to churches and the households they serve.”
News item from African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Sixth District
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