Greet Bedford, a local custom community magazine, offered BPC the chance to submit an article about the Bright Hope for Tomorrow solar energy project. Below is the article as submitted for the April 2025 edition.
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“Two years ago, Bedford Presbyterian Church (BPC) established a Green Team to strengthen its commitment to environmental stewardship. Created under the leadership of Buildings and Grounds Elder Brian Martel, this dedicated team focuses on energy-efficient upgrades to reduce the church’s carbon footprint. In 2024, marking its 275th anniversary, BPC launched the “Bright Hope for Tomorrow” solar power initiative, representing a significant milestone in its Creation Care mission and sustainability efforts.
The church is proud of its rich local history and is optimistic about a brighter future. Guided by its Presbyterian faith, BPC is committed to the call to be humble stewards of the Earth and aims to create a lasting, sustainable, earth-friendly legacy for future generations.
Traditionally, the church has relied on fossil fuels for heating, leading to rising costs and challenges in energy efficiency. To combat this, the church is launching a solar project that is expected to cut electricity costs by 86%, saving over $15,000 annually, which accounts for 41% of its total energy expenses. This initiative will also significantly reduce its carbon emissions, contributing to environmental conservation and a cleaner future for all.
The church currently uses about 50,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year for all its needs, including the Bedford Community Food Pantry. The new solar system is expected to generate around twice this annually, allowing the church to transition away from fossil fuels by replacing its heating and cooling systems with modern energy-efficient heat pumps that run on electricity from the solar panels.
The project involves installing two groups of solar panels placed on the hillside next to the parking lot, avoiding disruption to surrounding buildings. The solar panels will be low-profile and bifacial, meaning they can capture sunlight from both the front and the back, which allows them to generate more electricity, even from reflected sunlight on snow. The panels will be mostly hidden from view by existing evergreen trees and bushes bordering the road, and they’ll be partially shielded from the neighboring property below by that property’s solar panels.
The church is also considering planting shade-loving, pollinator-friendly plants beneath the panels, contributing to a more sustainable environment. The goal of this project is to provide the church with renewable solar energy to cover its needs for heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances without harming the planet.
Partnering with Revision Energy, a New Hampshire-based solar provider, this initiative has actively engaged a diverse array of stakeholders. The commitment and expertise of community members, congregation representatives, and sustainability professionals have helped the Green Team address various logistical, financial, and regulatory challenges. The installation of solar panels is set to begin in mid-April 2025, after the ground thaws.
For more information or to support “Bright Hope for Tomorrow” and other upcoming Green Team initiatives at Bedford Presbyterian Church, contact Brian Martel, Buildings and Grounds Elder, or call 603-472-5841. You can also visit our website at bedfordpresbyterian.org.”
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