Capital Projects

Solar Panels to Power Both Buildings

We have the opportunity to…

Green our electricity by placing solar panels on our community building. What a wonderful way to live our values and reflect them to our neighbors!

It would be ideal to be able to purchase enough panels to offset virtually all our electric bill and usage.

Will you help reach this goal?

Since we have two big buildings, we need a larger system than a house would have. The total cost for solar is expected to be around $54,000. We hope to reduce our eventual net cost through a 30% federal tax rebate. Any funds raised above the solar roof costs will go to other energy saving projects or other capital needs.

If you feel led to support this project, funds can be donated the following way...

Send a check payable to “West Hills Friends” with a memo that says “Solar Panels” to:

PO Box 19173, Portland, OR 97280-0173

or

7425 SW 52nd Ave, Portland, OR 97219

For smaller donations, you may also give at our Tithe.ly site. Please be aware there are 2.9% fees for use of a Visa/MC, or 1% for use of ACH. If you use Tithe.ly, please select “General Fund” and add a memo about “Solar Panels.”

Presentation by Solar Power taskforce

In August, the Solar Panel Taskforce of Doreen C., Kay E., and Karla Z. gave a presentation on the history, scope and timeline of the Solar Panel project. To view the presentation, click below.

Green light to move forward at September Business Meeting

In September, we approved a minute at Business Meeting that reads:

Minute 20230903:

To support our Quaker values and mitigate climate change, the meeting approves moving forward with adding solar panels so it can produce its own electricity.

This approval is contingent on net funds raised in advance. The solar taskforce is also authorized to proceed with a smaller solar system, if necessary, based on the amount of funding raised.

To support this project, the meeting authorizes designated giving toward a solar/capital projects fund. The fundraising goal is $75,000 and any funds raised beyond solar roof costs will be directed to other energy saving or capital projects.

Approving this minute allows treasurers to open up a designated giving line. Asks the task force to come back with target deadline and give regular reports on how the giving is going, beginning with next month’s business meeting.

APPROVED.

An invitation to invest in this long-term improvement

Completing this project will depend on designated giving. It is important to not divert funds from normal giving since those funds support our pastor, our ministry, and general maintenence.

This means we are asking you to consider giving a little more or a lot more than what you already give.

We hope you will consider this a project worthy of your "investment" - an investment in the future, an investment in peace, and an investment in the sustainability of West Hills Friends. You could even think of it like a carbon offset.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration and discernment.