Angelus Temple

How Solar is helping Angelus Temple and the Foursquare Church to further their community outreach; Solar equals savings and ensures community programs can continue.

“Foursquare has benefited tremendously from the experience and insight provided by Jay Radcliffe and Renu Energy Solutions to guide us through the installation of Angelus Temple’s solar. His leadership and partnering with our solar contractor, Sunworks, and tax-equity partner, Sunforce Solutions, will lead to a sizable savings for the church. Our desire from the beginning of this project was to help Angelus Temple release greater resources back into the communities they are committed to serving. We’re getting to see a dream come true!” 

– Tim Gale, PMP – Foursquare, Project Manager

“Renu was honored to help expand on the legacy of Aimee Semple McPherson in caring for the hungry, homeless and the broken through a 500 KW solar project. The solar project will save Angelus Temple over $100,000 a year in electricity charges that now can be put back into the community.  In designing Angelus Temple, Aimee wanted the painted dome ceiling to serve as a reminder to “work while it’s day”.  Renu feels this solar project serves as a dual testament to Aimee’s commitment to the community and to ‘work while it’s day”.

– Jeff Aliotta, Renu Energy Solutions

In the 1920’s, female Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson founded The Foursquare Church (ICFG) located in Los Angeles, California. Angelus Temple, which opened its doors in 1923, and featured a seating capacity of 5,300, held services daily where thousands would come to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and many were healed from sickness and physical ailments. Sister Aimee was committed to reaching the greater Los Angeles area and the world with the message of the Gospel. Angelus Temple was considered to be the first megachurch in the U.S. and received over 40 million visitors within the first several years.

Going Solar in California

Today, California has notoriously high energy costs. Due to this, churches are always looking for ways to save money and continue to grow their outreach.

Many Foursquare churches give back to communities by providing food for the homeless, working with children to better their environment, adopting city blocks to assist each home with their needs, and so much more. Solar will help these congregations by cutting utility costs and allowing their saved money to go where it matters most; towards the lives of others.

In 2015, Foursquare started exploring solar energy as potential for long-term cost savings for their churches. They immediately saw solar as an opportunity to help The Foursquare Church lock in savings, especially in states where energy costs were high.

The Foursquare Solar Program started with a specific goal in mind, to help churches save on ever increasing utility costs to have a greater impact on the communities and congregations they serve. By relying on the energy from the sun, churches can continue to save a great deal of money each year, while also having a positive impact on the lives of others.

The decision was made to support solar being put on as many churches as possible and committed $10 million of their portfolio for low cost loans for churches to go solar.

Foursquare also saw the benefit, as a non-profit, to take advantage of the ITC solar credit that couldn’t otherwise be captured by local churches. Through partnership with several tax-equity partners, Foursquare was able to receive sizable discounts on their projects and pass the savings along to the churches

Foursquare’s Solar Success Stories

Since the beginning of the solar program, Foursquare has been able to fund a total of 13 solar projects overall:

Bakersfield, CA – New Life (369 KW)*

Canyon Country, CA – The Sanctuary (98 KW)

Escondido, CA – The Center (149 KW)*

Hilo, HI – New Hope Hilo (113 KW)

Los Angeles, CA – Angelus Temple (496 KW)*

Los Angeles, CA – Parkview Senior Living (73 KW)

Newhall, CA – Havenhouse (14 KW)

Northridge, CA – Pathway Fellowship (25 KW)

Rocklin, CA – 180 Church (33 KW)

San Diego, CA – Faith Community (56 KW)

Santa Clarita, CA – The Church on the Way Santa Clarita (160 KW)

Sonora, CA – Old Oak Ranch (235 KW)*

Yucaipa, CA – Green Valley (14 KW)

*Several projects are still under construction, and Foursquare looks to continue opening opportunities for more of its churches to consider the savings and impact of solar.

With just 13 solar projects funded to date, Foursquare’s Solar Program has produced 1.8 Million Kilowatt hours, with an anticipated 30-year utility savings of nearly $23 Million. The environmental impact has also been significant. These systems have also produced the following environmental equivalents: 1,217 trees saved, 1.3 Million home hours powered, and 268 tons of coal offset

In 2015 Jay Radcliffe, CEO of Renu Energy Solutions, made it his mission to provide Angelus Temple with the opportunity to go solar. Atop of the parking structure sits a 496 kW system, utilizing 1,378 Sunpower 360 watt panels. To add an original and aesthetic feature, Jay designed an array layout that highlights four large crosses to be illuminated and projected into the Los Angeles skyline.

“Jay did an amazing job and he made it his mission to provide Angelus Temple with the opportunity to go solar and reap the benefits. ” – Jeff Stewart, Solar Project Sponsor and Foursquare Investment Committee Chairman.

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar: