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

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D18. Please describe any avoided financial costs or savings related to the project and over what period of time those costs will be avoided/reduced. (250 word limit) The savings for the St. Joseph's CME Church will begin as soon as the project is operational and will accrue over the 25-year lifetime of the panels. Over the project's lifespan, the Church will see reduced electricity bills and potentially even generate excess electricity that can be sold back to the grid. The 23.4kW solar PV system is estimated to save the Northside Neighborhood over $80,000 in energy costs over the next 25 years. This figure is likely to increase given Duke Energy’s recurring rate hikes that make energy progressively more expensive. SolarEquity is slated to pay for 100% of the upfront cost of the project; hence, St. Joseph's CME Church will immediately see financial benefits. The upfront funding will come through grants and donations. Solar panels generally require minimal maintenance and have a long lifespan. The church will be responsible for the maintenance of solar equipment, but will be able to fall back on its relationship with NC Solar Now to streamline the process. This large 23.4kW solar array will also cover a significant portion of the roof. The part of the roof covered by the array will wear less quickly and remain intact for considerably longer than the exposed portion of the roof, hopefully reducing long-term roof maintenance costs. After consulting the Church’s structural makeup, the weight of the panels will not place an undue burden on the supporting beams. D19. Does your project accelerate or expand on existing programs that already show positive impact? (150 word limit) Thanks to savings from the solar project, St. Joseph’s CME Church and the Jackson Center are expanding vital community efforts. Heavenly Groceries, the church’s food ministry, provides fresh food across four counties, addressing rising food insecurity in the region. To help residents remain in their homes amid increasing property taxes from commercial development, the church and the Jackson Center offer homeowner grants and have successfully lobbied Orange County for additional tax support. They’ve also launched a home repair program that helps elderly neighbors stay safe and rooted through quality rehabilitation by local contractors and organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, and Self Help. This program strengthens both residents and the local economy, providing employment opportunities and fostering deeper community ties. These initiatives, which solar-driven savings will bolster, are essential to preserving the vitality and character of the Northside neighborhood amid mounting financial pressures. D20. Does your project take advantage of other funding sources? If yes, please describe. (150 word limit) The solar installer for this project, NC Solar Now, has offered a discount of $3,744 off the project’s final cost. SolarEquity is extremely grateful for the $50,000 that OCNC provided for this project in the 2024 grant cycle. Since receiving that grant award, we have applied, unsuccessfully, to several other grants to finance our St. Joseph’s Solar Project. Several factors created difficulties as we sought these funds. These grants were all highly competitive and often non-specific, with hundreds of applicants pursuing diverse types of projects across the country. Additionally, it was challenging to find funding sources earmarked for energy projects in religious settings. W e found that most funds allocated for religious development go directly towards churches, not third-party non-profits that work to help them (like SolarEquity). Docusign Envelope ID: F42389BC-2D83-4E00-BC11-D720BFF48873