Diocese transitions to solar energy for St. John Neumann Pastoral Center

In late June, the Diocese of Metuchen put the finishing touches on a solar power project at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center in Piscataway. The brand-new 500,000-kilowatt solar energy system will power the Center while offering both environmental and financial benefits.

Bishop James F. Checchio shared that transitioning to solar power has been an “important initiative in the Diocese since the 2015 encyclical ‘Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home’ was released.” Pope Francis’ second encyclical “encouraged us to look for ways in which we could have a positive effect on the environment, in our parishes, our schools and our diocesan center,” the Bishop said.

Laudato Si’ was a call to action for Catholics to take care of the earth in a much more thoughtful manner. The Holy Father called on the faithful to live more sustainably and to take steps to address climate change. For instance, he encouraged Catholics to focus on transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar power in an effort to be better stewards of the planet.

“The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change,” wrote Pope Francis.

In response to this challenge, the Diocese started planning in 2019 for solar projects such as the recently completed array at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center. The Covid-19 pandemic delayed the timeline at first, but construction officially began in February, 2023. The Diocese partnered with Novitium Energy. with construction by New Road Eneergy.

Overall, the project went smoothly. “We were fortunate to have a mild winter this year, so the project wrapped up earlier than expected in June,” stated Steve Michalek, director of properties and facilities for the Diocese.

This was no small feat. The St. John Neumann Pastoral Center is a 100,000-square-foot building that houses the administrative offices of the Diocese of Metuchen, conference rooms, and the liturgical and religious offices in the Diocese, as well as the administrative offices of St. Peter’s University Hospital. Some 999 solar panels were installed to power the facility.

The installation was well worth the wait. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, the new solar array at the Pastoral Center is expected to offer economic advantages to the Diocese. According to Michalek, the Diocese obtained the solar panels at no out-of-pocket cost through its power purchase agreement. When the system flips on, the cost to purchase the solar energy will be less than what the Diocese would have paid a conventional utility company. Michalek anticipates that the system will save the Diocese more than $1.8 million over the 25-year lifespan of the system. “That’s a significant cost saving,” states Michalek.

Moreover, Michalek noted other building maintenance projects can sometimes be packaged with the solar installation such as a new roof or air conditioning system, providing further savings to the Diocese. He indicated that the power purchase agreement also ensures the Pastoral Center will not go dark if the skies are cloudy, for instance. “The center will always be connected to the grid,” he explained. If it is not sunny outside, the system temporarily switches to traditional energy to power the site. This power will be available at a reduced rate.

Given all the advantages, Michalek says the project at St. John Neumann Pastoral Center is just the tip of the iceberg: “We had planned to do solar not only at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, but we also wanted to do feasibility studies to see what we could do throughout the four counties that comprise the Diocese.”

Other solar projects have been completed at Immaculata High School in Somerville and St. Matthias Church in Somerset, and a solar installation is currently underway at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Old Bridge. Another dozen parishes and schools have also expressed interest in converting to solar power. Some feasibility studies are already underway.

Michalek hopes all the sites that qualify for a solar buildout will be transitioned to this renewable energy source over the next five to seven years.

Looking toward the future, Bishop Checchio acknowledged that, in addition to the financial gains of solar energy, he hopes “it has a good effect on others, especially our faithful, to increase awareness of our call to be good stewards of all God has given us, and to protect those gifts for future generations to enjoy.”

Reflecting on New Jersey, in particular, as a place with “rich and varied landscapes of farms, rivers, mountains and beaches,” Bishop Checchio said, “It all cries out to us of a Creator who loves us and gave us creation to enjoy – and to care for.”

Bishop Checchio also extended special thanks to “all those who were involved in the work and oversight of this important initiative.”