Quezon parish church taps solar power

LUCENA CITY – A Catholic parish church in Pagbilao, Quezon has expanded its use of renewable energy, with its rectory now partly powered by a 25-kilowatt solar energy system aimed at reducing electricity costs and promoting environmental stewardship.

In a Facebook post on Friday, June 19, the St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church announced the installation of a new 10-kilowatt on-grid solar power system at the parish rectory.

“As another step in our parish’s commitment to care for our common home, we have installed a 10-kilowatt on-grid solar power system for the rectory,” the parish church said.

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An on-grid solar system is connected directly to the local power distribution network, allowing solar-generated electricity to supplement power supplied by the utility provider.

When solar production declines due to cloudy weather or other factors, electricity is automatically drawn from the power grid.

According to the parish church, the newly installed system generates enough energy to cover the requirements of two recently installed office air-conditioning units and other operational needs.

The church noted that the additional installation complements its existing renewable energy facilities, which include a 5-kilowatt on-grid solar system at the rectory and a 10-kilowatt hybrid solar system at the church.

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“With the new installation, our parish now has a total solar power capacity of 25 kilowatts,” the parish church said.

Church officials added that the shift toward renewable energy will help lower electricity expenses and allow more resources to be directed toward pastoral programs and social ministries.

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“By relying more on clean, renewable energy, we reduce electricity costs and free up more resources for the Church’s pastoral and social ministry,” the parish church said.

The church also cited growing concerns over climate change and extreme weather conditions as among the reasons for adopting renewable energy technologies.

“With the growing threat of El Niño and climate change, caring for creation is not only an environmental responsibility—it is an act of Christian stewardship,” it said.

The solar energy project also serves as a concrete response to the call of Pope Francis in his environmental encyclical Laudato Si’ (“Praise Be”), which urges greater care for the environment and responsible stewardship of creation.

The parish’s adoption of solar power also aligns with the Catholic Church’s advocacy for cleaner energy alternatives amid concerns over the environmental impact of coal-fired power plants.

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Quezon province hosts several coal-fired power facilities, including two plants in Mauban town and three generating units in Pagbilao. A proposed 1,200-megawatt coal-fired power project is also planned in the municipality of Atimonan. INQ