'Good for God's creation:' Menomonee Falls church launches eco-friendly solar project

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MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Right now, the roof of Emmanuel Community United Methodist Church (EC-UMC) in Menomonee Falls is decorated with brightly colored flags. But in just a few weeks, over 100 solar panels will adorn the top of the building as part of the church's latest efforts to go green.

It's a project that's been in the making over the last year.

Doug Walters, the chair of EC-UMC's "Green Team" -- a ministry team focused on helping the church be more eco-friendly -- said their council had elected a five-person special task force to research and work on the idea. 

Earlier this week, construction began with a team preparing the roof for the panels.

“It’s exciting to see it happening, to know that this is going to actually be a part of our church," Walters said. "An array of 118 solar panels will be placed on the flat parts of the roof."

When installation is completed, officials expect roughly 60% of the church's yearly electrical needs to be provided, at a time when general electrical costs continue to rise. 

“From our past bills of about $17,000 dollars a year for electrical costs, that’ll go down to about $7,000," Walters said. 

Besides being cost-efficient, members are "excited" for the efforts to come to fruition.

“Not only just from the economic value but also from the long-term benefits to us and to the Earth,” said Head Trustee Gary Morgan. “They’re getting stuff done so it’s kind of fun to watch 'em out there moving material and finally getting it up to the roof and getting this installation going."

Members hope the project, which is expected to be finished over the next three weeks, will not only affect the church now, but positively impact future generations. 

"It's doing good for the environment and doing good for God's creation," Walters said. "It’s a legacy to people after us to say we cared about the Earth."

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