"We really wanted to demonstrate that Wesley Family Services was a player that's trying to innovate to benefit the entire community and potentially not just itself."
In a community once powered by Alcoa's industrial might, Wesley Family Services is bringing a new kind of energy to New Kensington. The behavioral health nonprofit serves more than 20,000 individuals annually throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, with more than 900 caring staff members and licensed clinicians committed to providing high-quality behavioral healthcare services and support programs to children, adults, and families.
Now, the organization has completed a rooftop solar installation on its Pioneer building, a 36-unit low-income housing development combined with the nonprofit’s office hub for the Alle-Kiski Valley.
Fast Facts:Wesley Family Services
Location: New Kensington, Pennsylvania
Organizational Mission: Empowering children, adults, and families by providing transformational Quality Whole Person Care(R)
Key Funding Initiatives: GET Solar Program through the PA Solar Center; WPEF Grant; Collective Sun Tax Credits
Solar Installation: 90 panels, 104.5 kW
Federal Tax Incentive: $33,452.80
Impact to Date (3 years):
$35,887.72 in energy savings
269,933.4 lbs of CO2 emissions reduced
256 MWh of clean energy produced
Equivalent of 2,040 trees planted
Pioneer: Affordable Housing and Office Hub
The 104.5kW system featuring 190 panels was made possible through a chain of strategic partnerships: the PA Solar Center's GET Solar program provided free technical assistance and financial guidance; the West Penn Energy Fund (WPEF) awarded a $170,720 grant; and Collective Sun exercised the system's tax credits, contributing $33,452.80 in discounted value. Wesley Family Services' total out-of-pocket cost was just $4,907.20 on a $209,080 project.
For CEO Doug Muetzel, the decision framework was never complicated. At Wesley Family Services, every initiative must pass a narrow test: "Is it mission consistent? Can we advance the mission in a more effective way? And does it provide for financial sustainability for the organization?" Solar energy answered all three.
A Building Built for This Moment
The Pioneer building was designed with innovation in mind from the start. Constructed over seven years ago through a combination of low-income housing tax credits and new market tax credits, the building achieved LEED Gold certification and met passive house standards. Critically, it was built solar-ready — wiring and structural capacity included — even though no one was certain solar would ever follow.
"It wasn't like we didn't have the idea of solar or innovation on our mind, but we really needed the economics to work," Muetzel explained. That foresight meant when the right funding aligned years later, the building was physically prepared to receive 190 panels on the roof.
"You have, you know, either on paper or in your head what your 'go point' is, and as soon as that funding hit... we said go."
The Funding Journey: Persistence Through Uncertainty
Wesley Family Services joined the PA Solar Center's GET Solar program in 2020 as part of its second cohort. The program provides free technical assistance and financial guidance to organizations exploring solar energy. Through that relationship, Wesley was introduced to WPEF, Collective Sun, and EIS (Energy Independent Solutions) Solar, the company that would ultimately install the system.
But the path from enrollment to installation stretched across three years, which was longer than usual. COVID-era economic uncertainty made the nonprofit hypersensitive to financial commitments. As a behavioral health provider operating largely in the Medicaid space, margins are razor-thin.
"Nonprofits really struggle to be at breakeven," Muetzel said. "Margin is something that doesn't come easy in the nonprofit world."
The organization needed near-full funding before it could commit. In 2022, that funding materialized when WPEF awarded its $170,720 grant and Collective Sun stepped in to claim the tax credits. With those pieces locked in, Muetzel knew this project could materialize.
"You have, you know, either on paper or in your head what your 'go point' is, and as soon as that funding hit — the exact same intersection of attitude and ability to get this done with a project manager that was capable — we said go."
The Partnership Chain
No single entity made this project possible alone, as it required a coordinated network of leaders and organizations involved. Muetzel emphasized this as the single most important factor: "You really need credible, trustworthy partners to come alongside you in order for a project like this to be executed in a way that you anticipated and planned for, both financially and for the execution of the system itself."
Internally, Wesley assigned Kristin Matthews as project manager. She immersed herself alongside PA Solar and the partner organizations, ensuring leadership had accurate representation on mission alignment, economic objectives, and technical performance expectations.
Results: Powering Savings Back Into Service
Wesley projects the system will generate close to $700,000 in savings over its 25-year lifespan. While that timeline exceeds the 18-to-24-month ROI horizon typical in business, Muetzel said the economics made it straightforward given the near-zero upfront cost.
"The fact that the system was predominantly paid for and we were garnering savings from the get-go really allowed us to pull the switch," he said.
Every dollar saved flows directly back into the organization's mission. The solar-generated power feeds into the building's general electrical supply, covering primarily the office portion of the Pioneer building and commingling with grid power for the full facility.
"You really need credible, trustworthy partners to come alongside you in order for a project like this to be executed in a way that you anticipated and planned for...”
Community Impact Beyond the Utility Bill
New Kensington carries the weight of industrial departure, and the community has faced significant social and economic struggles. Wesley Family Services saw the solar project as a statement of renewed optimism and revitalization for the broader community, and at the ribbon cutting, public officials and community members witnessed what innovation can look like in New Kensington.
"We really wanted to demonstrate that Wesley Family Services was a player that's trying to innovate to benefit the entire community and potentially not just itself," Muetzel said.
As a founding member of the New Kensington Downtown Partnership, Wesley Family Services joins a coalition of business and nonprofit leaders exploring ways to drive the community's renaissance. The solar project's details were shared with that group as a model for what's possible.
Staff responded positively as well, energized by seeing their organization pursue nontraditional approaches to better serve the people entrusted to their care.
Lessons for Other Organizations
For nonprofits and small organizations considering a solar project, Muetzel offers key takeaways:
1. Credible partners are non-negotiable. The PA Solar Center, WPEF, Collective Sun, and EIS each filled a specific gap — technical guidance, grant funding, tax credit value, and installation. Without any one of them, the project wouldn't have happened.
2. Mission alignment drives decision-making. Every step was filtered through the lens of whether it would help Wesley Family Services better serve its key populations and sustain that service long-term.
3. Patience can be strategic. The extended timeline from 2020 to 2023 reflected necessary caution during an uncertain period. Rushing would have meant taking on financial risk the organization couldn't afford.
4. Invest in internal project management. Assigning staffer Kristin Matthews as a dedicated PM ensured accountability across all external partners and gave leadership confidence the project would deliver as planned.
>5. Show your community what's possible. The engagement with New Kensington has amplified the project's impact far beyond energy savings, encouraging others to explore similar paths.
Looking Ahead
Wesley Family Services views the Pioneer installation as a proof point. Before scaling solar to other buildings, leadership wanted to complete one project and evaluate. With nearly three years of successful operation and growing savings, the question is no longer whether solar works for Wesley, but where next!
Meanwhile, the savings continue accumulating, each dollar directed back toward empowering children, adults, and families who depend on Wesley Family Services’ care.
