Church uses NV Energy rebate to pay for solar panel installation

Desert Spring United Methodist Church, 120 N. Pavilion Center Drive, will get its latest NV Energy bill any day now. But there will be no cringing.

That's because the church has gone solar, and an estimated 40 percent of its energy costs will be powered by the sun.

Best of all, the solar panels and their installation didn't cost the church a dime.

"I was looking for a company that could do it for the amount of the rebate, so we were out no money," said Nita Burrows, manager for the church's solar energy project.

The entire $244,350 rebate check went to D.L. Moore Construction, which has installed solar panels nationally and internationally.

A number of installation companies were considered. D.L. Moore's design, however, saw to it that the amount of panels that the roof could accommodate was maximized.

"That was one of the reasons why we went with him," Burrows said. "He fit in ... about a third more than the others."

Installation of the 256 panels began in March. The incentive program stipulated that the installation be finished by July 30, NV Energy said. Desert Spring's system was up and running by mid-June.

Cindy Kimmel, chair of the church trustees, said there was virtually no disruption in church activities during the installation.

"There were no cons except for the expense, and with the incentive, there was no reason not to do it," Kimmel said.

John Hargrove, manager of energy efficiency and conservation for NV Energy, said he first saw places of worship take an interest in solar energy about four or five years ago, with the first application for a church in Elko.

He said this time, as many as 30 churches applied for the energy program. Hargrove said the cost of solar energy dropping and the rebates made installing the systems enticing to places of worship.

"It's sort of a new market opening up," he said.

Before the panels could go up, the church's wallet took a $55,000 hit when its roof had to be replaced.

"It was 10 years old, we knew we were having troubles with it," Burrows said. "If you've lived here for any length of time, you know that all flat roofs leak."

Summerlin's beautification rules dictated the panels could not be visible from the street. The church design already had a parapet feature ensuring that.

Other churches that will receive a SolarGenerations rebate include the International Church of Las Vegas, 8100 Westcliff Drive, and the Hindu Society of Nevada, 1701 Sageberry Drive, NV Energy reported.

Desert Spring had not yet received its first energy bill since the panels went on line, but Burrows said she expects to see a $600 to $800 reduction.

"God's given us this earth, and we need to take care of it," Burrows said. "A church should be on the front lines of doing that."

Up next for the church is a new sanctuary. Ground is slated to be broken in the fall and construction completed by Christmas 2012.

Contact Summerlin/Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.