Certainly a priest doesn’t need a ladder to get closer to God.

But on Monday, Father Matthew Glover used a ladder to bless the city’s first solar panels on a religious institution, and then from his lofty position the pastor of Sts. Rose and Clement Church addressed the assembly of officials and students below.

The array of 176 panels is mounted on the southerly portion of the St. Rose of Lima School roof and is projected to generate an annual savings of $11,000, or about 30 percent of school electric needs.

The effort to harness the sun’s power was launched by former pastor of Sts. Rose and Clement Church Father Edward Wilson about three years ago when he learned of the state’s “Solar on Schools” program. William Patenaude coordinated the effort at the parish level and the school won two grants – $146,568 from the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources through the RGGI Solar on Schools program and $57,500 from the Commerce RI Renewable Energy Fund – to erect the 50kW net-metered solar facility.

Now, Father Glover is looking to extend the energy saving program with additional panels on the school and, perhaps a solar farm as part of the St. Clement Church property off Long Street. He is also looking into installing low-energy demand LED lighting and measures to reduce water use.

On her first day in her job as commissioner of the Office of Energy Resources, Carol Grant talked about the benefits of energy conservation and how the investment will enable the school to do more of what it does by providing scholarships and improve education. She said a total of $2.5 million would be spent on energy-saving programs in public and private schools.

Speaking about renewal energy and conservation, Mayor Scott Avedisian said to the students, “kids your age get it better than any of us our age…you’re leading the way.”

According to Patenaude, as part of the grant, the school had an educator attend a National Energy Education Development (“NEED”) Project workshop, where the educator received training on both in-class education supplements that can be added to the curriculum, as well as instruction on how to identify and pursue additional building energy efficient measures. Patenaude, a parishioner, is a columnist at the Rhode Island Catholic, and a co-founder of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, representing international efforts to respond to Pope Francis’ ecological encyclical.

Grant was prepared to climb the ladder and get a look at the panels that aren’t visible from the ground, but she and others kept their footing on what was a windy afternoon. Accompanied by Robert Clarkin, who handed up the holy water, Father Glover walked the roof, casting the water as he went. Then he returned to the ladder and said a prayer.

“Someday, after mastering the wind, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energy of love, and then for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”

POWER OF SONG:

St. Rose of Lima students held a brief rehearsal before singing at Monday’s dedication ceremony. (Warwick Beacon photos) WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT:

William Patenaude, who helped coordinate the program, describes the system at Monday’s event. LISTENING TO THE KIDS:

Father Matthew Glover, Commissioner Carol Grant of the Office of Energy Resources, and Mayor Scott Avedisian listen to a musical interlude provided by the students. FROM ON HIGH:

Father Matthew Glover gave a blessing from the roof of St. Rose School.