The Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis (UUI) will hold a public dedication of its new solar panel installation at 12:30 PM on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. Everyone is welcome to attend. The 20-minute event will take place on the church grounds at 615 W 43rd Street. It will include brief presentations by church and community leaders, music, and a ceremony of dedication. Following the event, a Question-and-Answer session will be offered along with refreshments.

The purchase and installation of the new solar system is part of UUI’s environmental sustainability commitment. With a long history of involvement in environmental causes, the congregation signed the Paris Pledge in 2015, committing to reduce carbon emissions by 50% before 2030, and 100% by 2050. With the new solar panel system, the church facility will become essentially electrically self-sufficient.

The ground-mounted solar panel system is made up of 128, 315-watt panels which will produce about 58,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, helping to prevent the release of about 60 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere by coal-generated commercial power plants. The system cost over $108,000 and was funded by contributions from church members and friends and grants.

UUI has been a leader for environmental initiatives in the Indianapolis faith community. It was designated by Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light as an Acclaimed Congregation and it is a founding member of Indy Green Congregations. Nationally, UUI is accredited by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Green Sanctuary.

For more information go to http://www.uui.org/the-environment or call 317-283-4760.

• Photos of the solar panel installation are available upon request.

• Arrangements can be made for interviews with Jamie Hinson-Rieger, UUI’s Director of Ministry, and/or Ray Wilson, UUI member and Solar Panel Team Leader.

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