Parish responds to pope’s climate change challenge with solar panels

Sullivan Solar Power used 123 Kyocera Solar modules, the most locally sourced solar modules available to San Diego, and American-made SMA America inverters for the solar project.

St. Patrick Catholic Parish in North Park, California, recently declared energy independence with a 31-kWdc solar shade structure and roof-mounted solar system. Local firm Sullivan Solar Power designed and installed the arrays.

“St. Patrick Catholic Parish is taking a leadership role in the Diocese of San Diego by going solar and doing their part to help preserve our Earth,” said Daniel Sullivan, founder and president of Sullivan Solar Power.

At a speech in Rome last year, Pope Francis expressed the need for society to change its habits to avoid potentially catastrophic effects of global climate change.

“Each of us has a personal responsibility to care for creation,” Francis said. “Respect for nature also means recognizing that man himself is a fundamental part of it.”

Father Michael McFadden, pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Parish, said he sees solar as a wise investment environmentally, financially and religiously.

“For me, it makes sense,” McFadden said. “We have to work together so that it is a viable planet. I believe that God is saying, ‘Please take care of it. It’s fragile.’”

The solar power installation for St. Patrick Catholic Parish is divided into two arrays. One is a shade structure in the parking lot connecting St. Patrick Catholic Parish and St. Patrick’s School, and the other is a roof-mounted system on the school.

McFadden is coordinating with Sullivan Solar Power to educate the kindergarten class and middle school students at St. Patrick’s School about solar power.

Sullivan Solar Power used 123 Kyocera Solar modules, the most locally sourced solar modules available to San Diego, and American-made SMA America inverters for the solar project.

Using local products for the project was very important to Sullivan Solar Power and St. Patrick Catholic Parish to avoid the environmental impact of shipping products across the globe.

“St. Patrick Catholic Parish is making an impact locally and will hopefully inspire other churches to go solar,” Sullivan said. “The Lord has blessed us with the resources we need to live a sustainable lifestyle.” SPW