In May 2019, Groundswell broke ground on a landmark solar project totaling 168kW of capacity at the 100-year-old DuPont Park Seventh Day Adventist Church in Southeast D.C.’s historic Ward 7 neighborhood. The project was made possible through Solar For All DC, a program of the Department of Energy and Environment.
For over 100 years, the Dupont Park Church family has maintained a visible and effective presence in Washington D.C., combining the proclamation of the full gospel of Jesus Christ with the ministry of education. The church seeks to provide a dynamic worship experience that is relevant, personal, and authentic, while developing disciples that will serve locally, nationally, and globally. This project helps the Dupont Park Church family meet its mission to serve the community.
This project delivers 100% of the electricity it generates to 47 low-income families in the community at no cost as part of the District of Columbia’s Solar for All program, cutting each family’s utility bill in half. The resulting total utility bill savings for participating families is estimated at $23,500 per year, or $470,000 over the 20-year life of the project.
The church roof installation is 43 kW, and the canopy — which was installed in an adjacent parking area — is a 125 kW installation