Ohio solar success stories: How federal grants are powering homes, businesses, faith communities
On the heels of the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Ohio stands at the forefront of demonstrating how federal incentives are making solar energy accessible for faith communities, businesses and homeowners alike.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Delaware, Ohio, is a prime example of how tax-exempt entities can now embrace solar energy, thanks to the IRA’s direct-pay provision. The Dayton Friends Quaker meeting building similarly installed a rooftop array in part due to the help from the same provision.
Meanwhile, Dayton resident Mike Fanelli powers his home and his car with solar energy thanks to a 5-kilowatt system made possible with the IRA’s 30-percent federal solar tax credit. Finally, Ohio’s Glass Rooster Cannery has benefited from the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to power their business sustainably.
These success stories mirror the broader national movement, where communities from Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota to Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, and beyond are reaping the rewards of going solar with federal support. Read more about them below.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church: Faith in Solar in Delaware, Ohio
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church has served the Delaware, Ohio, community for over 200 years. Since December 2023, they have powered their mission with solar energy, thanks to the IRA’s direct-pay provision, which enables tax-exempt organizations like churches to receive a direct payment instead of a tax credit. The church installed a 49-kilowatt solar system that now powers 100 percent of its energy needs, reducing their annual electric bill to zero.
“We got going on this because of that 30-percent rebate,” said Louis Iverson, a retired ecologist and chair of the church’s Stewardship Council. “That was critical.” St. Mark’s will receive a $35,000 rebate through the IRA, and the savings will allow them to reinvest in community programs like food donations and youth summer camps.
This success aligns with the church’s mission of creation-care. “We’re saving huge amounts of carbon emissions, and we’re doing what we can for the changing climate,” shared Iverson. “Being God’s stewards to His creation and taking care of what we have here is vital.”
verson hopes their story will inspire other congregations and nonprofits to follow suit, demonstrating that solar power is not only feasible but beneficial for communities of faith.
Mike Fanelli, Solar Homeowner in Dayton, Ohio
Mike Fanelli is a solar homeowner from Dayton, Ohio. He went solar through SUN’s Miami Valley solar co-op. His system does more than just power his house, it powers his cars too. And for Mike, solar offered a way to align his energy use with his environmental values.
“We own two electric cars. One of them is a plug-in hybrid and the other one is completely electric. I wanted to try to have enough panels to charge those vehicles so that we would basically be running on sun power.
The opportunity to save on the cost of installation through the co-op’s bulk purchase discount, and a 30-percent federal tax credit helped make his electrification goals a reality. “It definitely was icing on the cake. So, basically, my $12,000 panels are actually only going to cost me about $9,000. So that's pretty reasonable, and it's going to help pay off the panels in a shorter period of time.”
Dayton Friends: Solar-powered Quaker meeting in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton Friends is a Quaker meeting in Dayton, Ohio. As part of the Religious Society of Friends, the group counts stewardship as an important part of their mission. To put their values into action, the meeting participated in Solar United Neighbors’ Miami Valley Co-op and went solar in June 2024.
“We wanted to put panels up on our meeting house for both the purpose of reducing our overall electric bill, but also to align ourselves with our values of living sustainably. And we liked the idea of having the panels being visible from the street so as people drive by, they can see what we've done,” said meeting member Dan McGregor.
Direct pay, part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), allows tax - exempt entities like Dayton Friends to be paid for the value of the renewable energy tax credit — 30 percent. This made solar a reality.
“It's something the meeting has been thinking about for a number of years, right? But it wasn't until the nonprofit eligibility for the credit became available that we really started to look at it seriously,” shared McGregor. The ability to recoup 30 percent of the system cost led them to install a 2.4-kilowatt array projected to cover all of their electricity needs.
Glass Rooster Cannery: Solar-Powered Agribusiness in Sunbury, Ohio
Jeannie and Bill Seabrook, owners of Glass Rooster Cannery in Sunbury, Ohio, installed a solar array in 2023, thanks to a REAP grant and the IRA’s 30-percent federal tax credit. The solar installation powers their no-waste cannery and event venue, helping local farmers turn surplus produce into shelf-stable goods. With their energy costs eliminated, the Seabrooks have been able to reinvest in their staff and continue their sustainability efforts.
“Solar fits perfectly into our vision for sustainable farming and reducing waste,” said Jeannie. “It’s empowering to know we’re using renewable energy to power our business and serve the community.”
A Nationwide Movement of Solar Success Stories
Solar power is rapidly expanding across the U.S., with a record 32.4 GW of new capacity added in 2023, including 22.5 GW of utility-scale installations. This represents a 51-percent increase from the previous year and a 37-percent jump over the prior record set in 2021. The country’s total solar capacity now stands at 177 GW, and with continued support from federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), deployment is projected to quadruple in the next decade. The IRA has also fueled an 89-percent growth in U.S. solar module manufacturing in 2023, making solar more affordable, reliable, and accessible than ever before.
Ohio’s solar success is part of this broader national trend. With federal support through the IRA, communities across the U.S. are adopting solar energy to reduce energy costs, enhance sustainability, and empower local economies. For example:
• In Michigan, Brian Hayden from Ann Arbor installed solar on his home through a local Solarize campaign, offsetting his household’s energy use with a 7.5-kilowatt system. Meanwhile, Adam Schaller of Lakeshore Die Cast in Baroda integrated solar into his manufacturing operations, allowing his business to offset 100 percent of its energy costs and sell excess power back to the grid.
• In Georgia, veteran and former EPA employee Jay Bassett went solar through the Solarize Gwinnett program. His system powers two-thirds of his household energy needs, while he organized his community to donate Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to local nonprofits, furthering sustainability efforts in the area.
• In Wisconsin, Tony Schultz of Stoney Acres Farm has used solar to cover 75 percent of his electricity needs, while Paul Huber of Troy Farm achieved net-zero energy costs. Both are examples of how solar energy can sustain small, family-owned farms in rural areas.
• In Minnesota, dairy farmer Art Thicke of Enchanted Meadows and berry farmer Stuart Lavalier of Grand Rapids have achieved complete energy independence through solar. Both farms now generate more power than they need, selling the excess back to the grid.
• In Virginia, Janet Aardema of Broadfork Farm transitioned her agricultural operations to solar, reducing her energy bills significantly and reinvesting in sustainable farming practices.
• In West Virginia, East West Printing and Still Hollow Spirits have integrated solar into their operations, cutting costs and aligning their businesses with environmentally conscious practices.
• In Florida, businesses like John Kocol’s Island Hammock Pet Hospital and Nick Wishnatzki’s Wish Farms have adopted solar, enhancing their operations while reducing environmental impacts.
• And more.
Supporting Ohio’s Solar Transition
Ohio residents and businesses interested in learning more about going solar and how incentives can benefit them can download SUN’s Go Solar guide: https://act.solarunitedneighbors.org/a/go-solar-guide.
Or contact SUN’s Solar Help Desk, which takes the complexity out of solar so individuals can make informed decisions: https://solarunitedneighbors.org/help-desk/.
About Solar United Neighbors
Solar United Neighbors is a nonprofit organization that works in Ohio and nationwide to represent the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers, maximize the value of their solar investment, and advocate for fair solar policies.
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