The Grace Solar Installation is Up and Running!

The Grace solar installation was connected to the PSE grid on October 16, and on October 17 we held a ribbon-cutting celebration in Walker Hall. It was a joyful occasion with attendees from Grace, other congregations and environmental groups, Senator Drew Hansen, and Representative Tarra Simmons. We celebrated a project that took three years from conception to completion and was funded by a grant from the Washington Department of Commerce with funds provided by the Climate Commitment Act.* Please thank the Grace Greening Team members who dedicated their time and unique talents to making all this possible – Dan Rohan, Jens Bömer, Terry Jones, Dave Haley, Robert Cromwell, Gary Lagerloef, Eric Matthews, Ruth Blaney.

Here is a link where you can see how much power the system is producing.

*The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

— Marcy Lagerloef

Here are Rev. Eric’s words that were read at the event, since he was not able to attend:

Good morning! I wish I were with you to celebrate this day. Welcome to all, and thank you for joining us. These panels are the result of a committed group of parishioners who have long held that environmental stewardship is a sacred task and key to our spiritual path. Over the course of decades, they have called this community into deeper understanding of the vital role the earth plays in nurturing our souls. I honor these men and women, and I am grateful for their vision and witness. What I especially appreciate about this project is that, as we honor our connection to the Earth, we can also love our neighbors by helping those in need of utility assistance. I feel that this is exactly what a church should be doing. I am proud to be part of this community. Peace to you all.

—Rev. Eric Mason