How much would it cost to switch to solar energy in West Virginia?

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – The More Excellent Way Life Church Center is considering switching to solar energy to protect the West Side neighborhood. If you’re considering switching to solar, here’s how much it would cost.

Just eight months ago, more than 1,100 Mountaineer Gas customers on Charleston’s West Side lost natural gas, leaving many without running hot water or heat during the start of winter.

Dr. Robert Haley, pastor of the church, hopes installing solar panels can make their church a hub for people to gather if a utility crisis of that magnitude ever happened again.

“There were a lot of homes where people were cold, kids were huddling around. In some cases, people didn’t have a place to eat,” Haley said. “We were going to be a beacon for the community. We were going to be that place when there is trouble in the community, we’re going to be there for them.”

In case you’re considering switching to solar energy for your home or business, it is becoming a more popular option for power across the country.

Benjamin Villenave from Revolt Energy in Nitro said the switch could save you thousands of dollars.

“It’s the cheapest form of energy because we don’t have to pay for the fuel. We just have to have the infrastructure to capture and convert,” Villenave said. “God gives us sunshine for free, but we need the hardware to convert it to a usable energy source.”

Experts say a typical set of solar panels can range from $10,000 to $20,000 in price, depending on your home and budget. The average lifespan of a set of panels can last up to 25 or 30 years.

But homeowners can also earn up to a 30 percent tax break, and businesses 40 percent. Not to mention, a solar plan would subvert increasing electricity costs over decades.

As for the More Excellent Way Life Church Center, they hope to have panels installed by late 2024 or early 2025.

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