Ascension Lutheran Church and School installed a solar parking shade structure at their north Tucson campus in April of 2013. The 147.84 kW solar system provides 85-90% of the electricity used on site while shading 35 parking spaces.
Ascension Lutheran believes that there is a "need for alternative forms of energy because of rising electricity costs in the future." For them, going solar was a way to help protect themselves against these rising costs while "being good stewards of God's creation". Their Parish Administrator also remarked that "Solar is exciting and empowering."