Edgewood United Church is taking an extra step to promote clean water and air, not just for it's members, but for the entire community.
It is the first church in Mid-Michigan to have solar panels installed. Not one. Not two, but they've installed seventy solar panels.
It took 3 years to finalize the project and they are officially putting it in use. Jim Detjen said it didn't take long to have a positive influence on the area.
"We've already reduced the use of carbon dioxide, which is a green house gas from going into the atmosphere one in a half tons already," Detjen said.
Detjen also said the seventy solar panels are equivalent to planting 40 acres of trees or taking 86 cars off of the road.
When summer comes, the church hopes to generate enough electricity,and these solar panels will help reduce costs. As Detjen tells me -- they weren't cheap to get. The church raised $70,000 in 3 months.
Since the panels will generate 35% of the churches electricity, the energy will no longer come from Lansing Board of Water and Light.
The church also hopes this will inspire more people in the area to consider solar energy.
