The New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Lithonia, Georgia, is celebrating becoming one of the first faith communities in the state to install solar and battery storage on its campus, as well as the first commercial pilot participant to seek battery storage in collaboration with Georgia BRIGHT and Capital Good Fund.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by AME District Six and the Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) to transform congregations into resilience hubs. The gatherings are equipped not only with solar and battery storage but also with electric vehicle charging stations, enabling them to provide emergency vehicle power, store essential medications, and serve as shelters during severe weather and climate disasters.

Bishop Michael Leon Mitchell of the AME Church in Georgia's Sixth District stated, "Historically, the AME Church has been a beacon of hope and safe harbor for communities during crises." "In becoming a center of resilience, our church prepares for tomorrow's climate challenges while honoring this legacy. This is to uphold our sacred mission of serving and caring for our neighbors."

Hannah Shultz, Director of the GIPL Project, stated, "AME Church is demonstrating to Georgia that when faith communities embrace both practical resource management and climate justice, anything is possible." "This initiative goes beyond clean energy—it is about building the infrastructure our communities need to withstand future storms, both literally and metaphorically."

Currently, 12 churches are participating in the pilot program of the Sixth Region and GIPL, and have recently received additional funding to support the implementation at four of them. The 482 churches in the Sixth Region could collectively generate approximately 34 GWh of electricity annually. This amount is sufficient to power over 3,000 households each year.

Reverend Will Thomas, the senior pastor of New Bethel AME Church, stated, "This initiative reflects our commitment to being good stewards of creation and serving our community in tangible ways. 'When the lights nearby go out, we hope New Bethel becomes a place where people know they can come for safety and support. That is the mission of our church.'"

The 70.11-kilowatt solar system and 41-kilowatt-hour battery storage system installed by Better Tomorrow Solar is expected to meet 80% of the church's annual energy needs, saving the faith community over $15,000 in utility costs each year.

This project was made possible with the support of Hive Fund, Black Voters Matter, and Georgia BRIGHT, which provides funding for Solar Energy Purchase Agreements (SEPA) to congregations at zero upfront cost. Georgia BRIGHT is a program under the national nonprofit Capital Good Fund, enabling nonprofit organizations and homeowners to access solar power without prepayment by leveraging federal tax credits, grants, and bulk purchasing.

"Black Voters Matter is proud to support New Bethel AME Church as it leads the way in building stronger, more resilient communities," said Melinee Calhoun, State Organizing Manager at the Black Voters Matter Fund. "This initiative goes beyond clean energy—it involves ensuring Black communities have the resources, infrastructure, and power to withstand crises and thrive amid climate challenges. By investing in solutions like solar and battery storage, we are helping create a future where our communities are not only heard at the ballot box but also empowered to shape and sustain their own well-being."

Alicia Brown, Director of BRIGHT in Georgia, stated, "New Bethel AME Church has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the first Georgia BRIGHT community participant to integrate battery storage with a solar system. By adopting storage, they can not only reduce costs and enhance resilience for their congregation and surrounding community but also showcase how community organizations can play a significant role in lowering costs and improving the resilience of larger energy systems."

To further support the community's green transition, Better Tomorrow Solar also provided two dual Level II electric vehicle chargers for the church, which will also supply solar power for the community's electric vehicles.

"Installing solar and battery storage at New Bethel AME is not just an energy project. It is a powerful statement about the future we are building together." said Roji Aldashi, CEO of Better Tomorrow Solar. "It is both inspiring and significant to see the church lead by example in environmental stewardship. When the chapel becomes a source of power and security for its community, we witness the true impact of renewable energy. We at Better Tomorrow Solar are proud and honored to support this important initiative."