2026-086-E-County Mgr-Solar Equity-St. Joseph's CME Church Solar Project

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C5. If a full award for your project is not possible, can/will you accept partial funding and still be successful? Yes Please explain how your project can still be successful if you don't receive the full requested amount. (200 word limit) SolarEquity’s installation of solar on St. Joseph’s CME Church will proceed irrespective of the County’s support. If we do not receive funding from this grant, we will move forward, applying for other grant funding and fundraising opportunities like our SolarStrides 5k. W ith this said, receiving funding from Orange County will ensure the project commences construction ahead of the Investment Tax Credit phase-out during the middle of 2026, thereby saving tens of thousands of dollars and ensuring that the Church congregation sees reduced energy burdens moving forward. Section D. Scored Criteria Criterion 1 - Social Justice and Racial Equity This criterion has a maximum score of 6 points (out of a total of 26 points). D1. W ho will directly or indirectly benefit from your project? Please be as specific as possible on the characteristics of those who will benefit including, gender, race, age, income level and geographic location. (200 word limit) St. Joseph’s CME Church is a historically Black church located in Chapel Hill’s Northside Neighborhood. Its congregation - primarily Black, multi- generational residents of Orange County - is deeply rooted in a community that has experienced decades of displacement due to rising housing costs, student rental conversions, and gentrification. Northside has long served as Chapel Hill’s largest Black neighborhood and a hub for low-to-moderate- income families. However, between 1980 and 2010, its Black population declined by over 40%, from 1,159 to 690 residents. Many families have been priced out, pushed to rural areas further from jobs, services, and transit. The Church remains a spiritual and cultural cornerstone in this changing landscape. Its members are directly responsible for covering utility costs, so reducing energy bills will ease the financial burden on congregants and enable reinvestment in community needs. Indirectly, the broader Northside community - primarily people of color and low-income households - will benefit from cleaner air, energy education, and inspiration to pursue solar adoption themselves. D2. W hat are the demographics of the area where your project takes place? (150 word limit) This project takes place in Chapel Hill’s Northside Neighborhood, the town’s oldest and largest historically Black community. Northside has long served as home to working-class Black families and older residents, many of whom have lived there for generations. The neighborhood primarily consists of single-family homes priced below the Chapel Hill average and serves residents earning 30-60% of the area median income. However, over recent decades, Northside has experienced a sharp demographic shift due to gentrification and rising student housing demand. Between 1980 and 2010, the Black population declined from 1,159 to 690 residents. Today, approximately 69% of non-student households in Northside are households of color. W hile the broader neighborhood is rapidly changing, St. Joseph’s CME Church remains a cultural and community anchor for longtime residents. Docusign Envelope ID: F42389BC-2D83-4E00-BC11-D720BFF48873