By Rev. Todd Bartlett, Executive Director, Camp and Retreat Ministry of the OR-ID United Methodist Church.
Header photo: Solar Installation at Wallowa Lake United Methodist Camp.
The Board of Camp and Retreat Ministry of the Oregon-Idaho Conference of The United Methodist Church is engaged in furthering the experience of justice in this conference. They have adopted values that include “act with justice in the world” and a vision that seeks to see a world of wonder, love, and justice.
One endeavor that the board engaged with this past year is in the area of environmental justice. During 2022 the board approved the plans for solar projects at two of our sites. The Alton L. Collins Retreat Center has installed a 150-kWh solar array and the Wallowa Lake Camp has installed a 50-kWh array. The Wallowa Lake array was turned on and began producing electricity for the site and the grid in December of 2022. The Collins Retreat Center array was installed during December of 2022 and is awaiting final approval and permitting from the county, which would allow the power company to install the new transformer so that electricity can be used by the site and pushed into the grid when producing more than what is consumed by the site. Each array will produce at least 50% of the electrical needs of each site.
This effort included a partnership with the Oregon Clean Power Cooperative. This Coop is working with other faith-based organizations, mostly congregations, to install solar panels on church buildings or property to help Oregon move into a brighter future with less pollution and greater reliance on renewable energy.
This agreement included a partnership with a contributor who will receive a tax credit for the installation of these solar arrays. This partner owns the solar installation until such time as Camp and Retreat Ministry buys it on a depreciated amount. Additional investors will receive a return on their investment over 10 years.
Another important element of the funding for this project came through a grant from the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministry Association (UMCRM). This association procured a grant opportunity that has funded many projects across the country for camp and retreat centers that are focused on long-term sustainability. With a grant of $75,000 we were able to find the funding for the first phase (the Collins Retreat Center) and then quickly move to the second phase.
We are excited to share this story with others and to demonstrate to our campers and guests that we are committed to working with renewable energy resources to help all of us live into a future of cleaner air and less dependence on fossil fuels.
Alton L. Collins Retreat Center, Eagle Creek, OR
From left to right: Rev. Dan Benson, Director, Collins Retreat Center, Leigh Madsen, Board Secretary, Rev. Karen Nelson, Board Vice Chair, Rev. Ruth Marsh, Board Chair, Rev. Carol Sedlacek, Episcopal Diocese of Oregon, Board Ex Officio, Rev. Jessie Connor, Board Member, Rev. Todd Bartlett, Ex. Director, OR-ID Board of Camp and Retreat Ministry.