Special for The Republic | azcentral.com
Submitted by Marilyn Hawkes of Temple Solel in Paradise Valley.
Temple Solel in the town of Paradise Valley on March 23 became the first Jewish temple in the Phoenix metro area to make the switch to solar energy.
Rabbis John Linder and Ilana Mills, along with the congregation and representatives from the board of trustees, joined more than 100 K-8 religious-school students, teachers and staff in a pep-rally-style celebration in the temple parking lot, 6805 E. McDonald Drive.
The solar project will result in an environmental impact over the next 20 years equivalent to reducing more than 15 million pounds of emissions, the planting of 174,000 trees and 1,250 cars being taken off the road — and a savings of more than $739,000 in energy costs — according to Leon Gavartin, a member of the Temple Solel board of trustees and chairman of the synagogue’s facilities committee.
Related: California Utility PG&E Exceeds 20 Percent Renewable Energy Standard
If you’d like to discuss energy issues, contact Court Rich, director of Rose Law Group’s Renewable Energy Department at crich@roselawgroup.com
