New Solar Array on Abbey Roofs

September 9, 2017

This summer we were able to complete our plan to install solar panels on a number of Abbey roofs.

Thanks to a grant from the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), we had solar panels installed on the roofs of the candy house (336 modules), candy business office (64 modules) and the front of the Abbey (36 modules). These 370 watt LG units should reduce our electricity bill by 60% or more, allowing us to free up funds to cover the medical needs of our senior sisters.

This initiative is part of our ongoing plan to meet most of our energy needs through renewable sources, in accord with our Cistercian Order's tradition of responsible stewardship and the Church's recent emphasis on care of creation.

We have already committed ourselves to three types of renewable energy on our property: a wind turbine, which supplies power for our monastery; a geothermal energy system for heating and cooling our candy production facility; and a solar field which benefits the nearby town of Franklin, MA.. Our hope fore the future is to extend the use of the geothermal system to the Abbey buildings.