PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. — A Prairie Village church recently became the latest congregation in the metro to install solar panels.
Colonial Church Pastor Aaron Roberts said he was inspired by the Second Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Missouri, which put in solar panels several years ago. Roberts saw a report about the church’s efforts on a local news station.
“They were challenging others in the area for us to respond to their lead on this,” Roberts said.
Roberts showed the news clip to the congregation one Sunday morning.
“I said, 'You know, we need to respond to this,'" Roberts said. "No other churches have responded."
The congregation voted to approve the project in June and 32 panels were installed on the building this week.
Because the church is a nonprofit, it pays for the panels itself rather than using tax credits as a business would do.
“Churches end up paying quite a bit more, but it’s the moral response we’re going for rather than tax credits in that case,” Roberts said.
Roberts said the panels, which cost about $36,000, will pay for themselves in about 12 years.
He hopes other churches and businesses will be inspired to look into similar projects.
"There's really no reason not to do this," Roberts said.
Prairie Village mother Liz Alingh said she couldn't agree more.
"I think it's great. It will probably be very good for the church, and maybe some other businesses and even houses in the neighborhood will follow suit," she said.
Roberts said that's the goal.
"We hope that this is a witness to our community of what is truly important," Roberts said.
The pastor said some people had concerns about how the panels would look on the building, but he couldn't be happier with the outcome.
"I think they're beautiful," Roberts said.
Now he wants others to see the beauty in them and consider doing their part to be more eco-friendly.
"Do it too. Let's join together and outdo each other in acts of righteousness," Roberts said.
He said he hopes to add more solar panels in the future.
