Jesuits USA East

Organization: USA East Province of the Society of Jesus (UEA Province)

Location: A rooftop array on main residence building, Colombiere Jesuit Community in Baltimore, MD and a ground mount array on retreat property northeast of retreat center buildings, Loyola on the Potomac Jesuit Retreat House in Faulkner, MD

CHALLENGE

In alignment with the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) of the global Society of Jesus, the UEA Province emphasizes "care of our common home" as a focus for their work as part of their 2024 UEA Apostolic Plan. The UEA Province aimed to explore solar energy for their property as a way to take action in ecological leadership. UEA Province leaders sought Mission Energy’s expertise in navigating the complex technical, regulatory, and financial factors of solar development, in order to conduct a comprehensive assessment of potential sites while tailoring the approach to the unique financial and operational needs of each facility.

ANALYSIS

Mission Energy assessed the UEA Province portfolio for key variables to maximize the benefit of solar for their real estate, and composed multiple design and financial models to help the Province determine the best initial sites. Mission Energy identified a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) as the ideal solution for the Colombiere Jesuit Community, to accommodate the facility’s preference to avoid upfront capital outlay. Mission Energy presented a direct ownership model for Potomac Jesuit Retreat House, utilizing an initial capital investment which resulted in optimal returns. Incorporating Federal tax incentives and Maryland solar renewable energy credits (SRECs), the designs were tailored to the properties’ energy needs and to make best use of rooftop space or land available.

STRATEGY

Mission Energy:

• Completed a multi-site evaluation of Province real estate to analyze energy data, rooftop and site conditions, and federal, state and local incentives and regulations;

• Presented preliminary design and cost/benefit analysis to UEA Province leadership;

• Evaluated investors, secured partnerships, and coordinated negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement to finance the Colombiere Jesuit Community system;

• Designed the system for the Loyola on the Potomac Jesuit Retreat House to qualify for the Federal Direct Pay credit, reducing the capital cost of the project by 30%;

• Managed installation of the solar systems working with local contractor installers.

RESULTS

• Both locations benefit from a reduction in facility energy costs:

• Colombiere Jesuit Community has a locked-in solar energy cost rate under a Power Purchase Agreement, protecting the facility against future local utility energy rate increases.

• The system at Loyola on the Potomac Jesuit Retreat House offsets 100% of the facility’s estimated energy needs.

• Collectively the two solar systems are estimated to produce 522,900 kWh of solar energy per year.

• The systems combined save approximately 356 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

This is equivalent to:

• Planting and growing 5,336 trees for 10 years

• Removing 75.3 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road each year

• Providing electricity for 84 homes for a year

LINKS

• https://www.jesuitseast.org/press-release/jesuits-usa-east-completes-two-solar-energy-projects/

• https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2025/09/17/jesuits-usa-east-completes-two-solar-energy-projects/