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The Catholic Diocese of Honolulu announced it will install photovoltaic electricity systems at 22 parishes and St. Stephen Diocesan Center.
The rooftop panels will provide 80 percent of the facilities’ electricity needs and will help parishes be "good stewards of the environment," said Vince Vernay, facilities manager for the diocese.
The first phase of installation will start with nine parishes: Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, St. Joseph Church in Waipahu, Star of the Sea Church in Kahala, St. Anthony Church in Kailua, St. John the Baptist Church in Kalihi, Maria Lanakila Church in Lahaina, Christ the King Church in Kahului, St. Theresa Church in Kihei and St. Anthony Church in Wailuku.
All are expected to remain open for regular Mass services and events, Vernay said in a news release.
Trane will install the systems. Representatives of Trane surveyed all 66 parishes in the diocese to determine their levels of energy use. Parishes not selected for a PV system were given recommendations on energy conservation.
Trane linked the diocese with Sunforce Solutions, a San Francisco-based firm, to finance the photovoltaic projects. Sunforce created a power purchase agreement through which the firm pays for the installation and maintenance of the systems and is reimbursed by the parishes for the number of kilowatt-hours they produce, the news release said. The diocese is paying no money upfront for the project, Vernay said.
Don Mitchell, a business development director for Trane, said the overall energy bill for each parish will decrease significantly.