Holy Electricity:
The Vatican Solar Energy Project

The Roman Catholic church is going green. The Vatican solar energy project to be constructed near the small Italian village of Santa Maria di Galeria will produce a whopping 100 Mega Watts of electricity, enough to power upwards of 40,000 homes. It's not all for free, though. The Vatican is investing in this clean energy in order to be able to sell the excess electricity to the not-very-green Italian government.

Project Specification

The scale of the project is massive. It will occupy 740 acres of land and cost in the vicinity of $660 million USD. The project will use photovoltaic solar panels.

This is not the only green energy project the Vatican has in its portfolio. There are already solar panels covering the roof of the Paul VI auditorium and plans are afoot to have the Vatican's cafeteria heated and cooled using solar energy.

Lead By Example

The Vatican City’s governor was quoted as saying “One should take advantage of the crisis to try and develop these renewable-energy sources to the maximum, which in the long run will reap incomparable rewards.” It's good to see some leadership in these troubled times. At least the Church is able to maintain some perspective on the long term issues, even as governments all around the world are chasing their tails and worrying about their economies.

“You offend God not only by stealing, taking the Lord’s name in vain or coveting your neighbor’s wife but also by wrecking the environment,” said Bishop Gianfranco Girotti. At least they are putting their money where their mouths are.

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