(HARTFORD, Conn – The Interreligious Eco-Justice Network, Earthlight Technologies, and thirteen religious communities from around the state launched Solarize Faith on Friday, May 1 to encourage residential solar and battery storage through houses of worship.
Through Solarize Faith, residents will be able to access group discounts for residential solar and battery storage between May 1, 2026, and June 30, 2026. In addition, Earthlight Technologies will donate $1,000 to the participating houses of worship for each completed project that comes in through their religious community.
Teresa Eickel, Executive Director of IREJN, said, “Every faith tradition asks us to be good stewards of the earth and its resources. Solar is a clean and affordable source of energy; IREJN is excited to partner with Earthlight Technologies to offer this limited-time program. Solar not only reduces energy costs for the residents who have it, but it also reduces costs for all ratepayers by reducing peak demand during our hottest days.” She continued, “In addition, Solarize Faith will help houses of worship raise money for the programs that they offer, which are so beneficial to the people in their community.”
Eric Foley, Director of Residential Sales at Earthlight Technologies, recognized the impact of religious communities, stating, “Earthlight Technologies is inspired by local faith communities who are choosing solar as a way to reduce costs while living out their commitment to stewardship of our planet. We are proud to partner with the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network to bring the Solarize Faith Campaign to life. Together with IREJN, we’re making clean, affordable solar more accessible and empowering houses of worship to lead the way toward a more just and sustainable world.”
Andy Bauer, who is leading the campaign at his synagogue, Adath Israel in Middletown and also serves as the Chair of the Portland Clean Energy Task Force said, “The concept of caring for this world, this creation, is both simple and powerful. Few organizations are better prepared to put these words into action than Houses of Worship. Add in the benefit of IREJN’s experience conducting environmental campaigns, and that’s a recipe for success.”
His enthusiasm was echoed by Margaret Sipple from Trinity Episcopal Church in Branford. “Our Creation Care Team at Trinity was delighted to learn about this great opportunity to access the incentives offered by Solarize Faith. Last year Trinity members raised funds for the purchase of solar panels for the residence provided to our clergy, and so we have already been acquainting our faith community with the importance of ‘going solar.’”
Eickel stressed the need for energy independence from fossil fuels, which have seen wild price spikes in recent months and generate both pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. “CT has solid solar programs in place that bring more clean energy to our grid, reducing air pollution and smog.” She continued saying that the health benefits of clean energy were clear. “Scientists are predicting a record-breaking El Nino this summer, which could result in life-threatening heatwaves and an increase in air pollution,” Eickel stated. “Making the transition to clean energy helps everyone, especially our most vulnerable brothers and sisters, who are hurt the most during extreme weather and bad air days.”
Houses of worship participating in Solarize Faith are Trinity Episcopal Church, Branford, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury, First Congregational Church of East Hampton, St. Anthony’s of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Fairfield, Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Hartford, Adath Israel, Middletown, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Middletown, Noank Baptist Church, Mystic, Union Baptist Church, Mystic, First Congregational Church of Portland, Zion Lutheran Church, Portland, Ridgebury Congregational Church, Ridgefield, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Storrs.
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The Interreligious Eco-Justice Network is a faith-based environmental organization that works with hundreds of religious communities in CT; energy efficiency and clean energy for houses of worship and their members is a major focus of the organization.
Earthlight Technologies is a family-founded solar and energy solutions company headquartered in Ellington, Connecticut. With in-house expertise across solar, battery storage, EV charging, energy efficiency, sports lighting, and roofing, Earthlight helps homeowners, businesses, and organizations take control of their energy costs through trusted guidance, quality work, and long-term support.