ICC SOLAR
440 PANELS
147 KILOWATTS
In 2019. ICC Celebrated 50 years as a parish… Installs 440 Solar Panels… producing a 147 kilowatt solar energy system.
What a way to celebrate and mark our 50th Anniversary by doing something sustainable that will Care for God’s Creation! AND ICC is the first in the Diocese of Richmond to take this step!
“OPINION: HAMPTON CHURCH LEADING BY EXAMPLE”
Fr. John Grace encourages all to embrace hope despite the overwhelming climate crisis, and to do what we can to decrease our own contribution to climate disruption in an his opinion article published in the Virginian Pilot on September 24, 2020.
In his article, Fr. Grace describes the ripple effect that one act of gratitude for God’s creation can have on our neighbors and that this effect in the form of hope and action should not be underestimated. With help from Catholic Energies, Immaculate Conception began to reduce carbon emissions from our property with conversion to solar power. The ripple effect of our example continues today with lower power bills, a decrease of 230 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, more solar panel installations on church properties in our diocese as well as many other “hope-restoring projects” such as carbon off-sets with African farmers.
A solar panel is installed on the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hampton, Virginia. The solar array now fully powers the church and was installed with Catholic Energies, a nonprofit program of the Catholic Climate Covenant that helps churches build solar power/energy efficiency projects. MUST CREDIT: John Grace. (Fr. John Grace)
“WHO HAS THE GREENEST CATHOLIC DIOCESE IN THE US? MAYBE VIRGINIA”
In an article published in American Magazine, September 24, 2020, Charles Mikell, diocese director of real estate, highlights ICC’s conversion to solar energy as an example he would like to see emulated at every diocesan property in the Diocese of Richmond. Mikell’s ambitious goal is an effort to offset more than 45,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases over the next 25 years. Fr. Grace’s example continues to inspire pastors to use available resources to convert their parish buildings to solar energy.
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MEDIA COVERAGE
AMERICA MAGAZINE September 24, 2020: Who has the greenest Catholic diocese in the US?
VIRGINIA PILOT September 24, 2020: Hampton Church leading by example on climate change
DAILY PRESS JUNE 12, 2019: Hampton Catholic church going green
DAILY PRESS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR JUNE 14, 2019: Shining example of Christian stewardship
CATHOLIC VIRGINIAN JUNE 28, 2019: Immaculate Conception first in diocese to convert
NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER JULY 1, 2019: A Virginia parish switched to 100% solar power — and paid nothing
Mentions OF ICC:
WASHINGTON POST JULY 21, 2019: A field in D.C. will soon be home to 5,000 solar panels. It’s all because of local Catholic groups — and a message from the pope.
CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY JULY 23, 2019: Catholic groups installing 5,000 solar panels in DC
