An Unlikely Voice in Clean Energy
What does a reverend bring to conversations about solar energy and climate action? In this powerful episode of The Solar Coaster, Reverend Kevin Taylor reveals how faith-based environmental stewardship intersects with clean energy innovation—and why his willingness to advocate for controversial industry partnerships cost him not one, but two positions in the sector.
Reverend Taylor’s journey from the pulpit to Greentown Labs to advocating for unlikely alliances offers a perspective rarely heard in solar circles: that environmental stewardship is a biblical mandate, and that achieving a just energy transition might require partnerships that make many in the clean energy movement uncomfortable.
The Light Discovered in Church
Reverend Taylor’s solar journey began exactly where you’d expect for a faith leader—in church:
“The sun first shined on my solar path before I joined Greentown Labs. And that is because one of our sister churches in Boston, Bethlehem Church in Boston, became the first church in the entire AME church connection—so more than five thousand churches around the world—to have solar panels installed on their church.”
The Small World Connection
In a delightful twist, when Reverend Taylor later joined Greentown Labs, he discovered: “The person who installed them on the church was the COO of Greentown, Ryan Ding.”
This serendipitous connection between faith community and clean energy innovation perfectly encapsulates Reverend Taylor’s career—bridging worlds that don’t often intersect.
The Church Solar Paradox
Churches represent what should be ideal solar candidates:
- Large, unshaded roof spaces
- Consistent daytime occupancy
- Community visibility
- Alignment with environmental stewardship values
- High electricity usage
Yet solar adoption among churches remains surprisingly low.
The Funding Challenge
“I actually looked at it for my church,” Reverend Taylor shared. “I pastor Israel AME Church in Albany, New York. It’s the oldest black church in upstate New York and a stop on the Underground Railroad.”
His vision extended beyond the roof: “I wanted to see whether or not we could do solar on the roof of the church and also in the parking lot, because the parking lot is an area that is obviously not used outside of morning worship and rehearsals. Could we do the carports?”
The $45,000 Barrier
“When I looked into it, I got a quote. It was like forty five thousand dollars upfront in order to be able to do it. And that could be financed.”
But for many churches, even with financing available, $45,000 represents a massive obligation.
“I think it’s the initial cost of the obligation that makes it unfortunately cost prohibitive for churches, but it is an excellent source of revenue. And you’re right, those are big, beautiful spaces that can be reclaimed for solar.”
The Tax Credit Problem
I raised an important point: “I think one of the other drawbacks was the tax credits. Since you’re a nonprofit, you did not qualify for the ITC tax credit of thirty percent, which is a big reason or motivator to get that price down.”
This creates a fundamental inequity: the organizations that could most benefit from lower energy costs—nonprofits serving communities—are excluded from the primary incentive mechanism that makes solar affordable.
The Corporate Donation Solution
During our conversation, we explored a creative solution:
“Corporations used to provide a lot of donations, but when legislation changed a couple years ago, you weren’t really able to take a deduction the same way. What would make sense is if a big corporation wanted to write something off, they could actually donate a solar system to someone like a church.”
The Win-Win Partnership
Reverend Taylor embraced this concept: “That would be the type of private partnership that would make a difference for a number of organizations. To the extent that it is a write off, why not? It would be something to be able to show the community the level of commitment of that organization and then to help that institution to thrive.”
This represents exactly the kind of creative partnership Reverend Taylor advocates for—solutions that benefit multiple stakeholders while advancing clean energy deployment.
Biblical Environmentalism
Reverend Taylor grounds his environmental advocacy in scripture:
“When humankind was created, we were to have dominion over the earth, and so we were given one Earth. It is our responsibility to take good care of it.”
Stewardship vs. Exploitation
This interpretation of “dominion” emphasizes stewardship and responsibility rather than exploitation—a theological position that makes environmental protection a moral imperative, not a political choice.
For faith communities wrestling with climate action, Reverend Taylor offers a biblical framework that doesn’t require abandoning religious values to embrace environmental responsibility.
The Greentown Labs Transformation
Reverend Taylor’s biggest professional win came at Greentown Labs:
“The biggest was being able to transform Greentown Labs from a Delaware based S Corp into a non-profit.”
Why This Matters
Greentown Labs is North America’s largest climate tech incubator. Converting it from a for-profit corporation to a nonprofit structure fundamentally changed its mission orientation and operational model.
This transformation positioned Greentown Labs to better serve its mission of accelerating climate solutions while potentially accessing different funding streams and partnerships available to nonprofits.
Meeting Jennifer Granholm
Another high point: “I had an opportunity to meet Jennifer Granholm, who at the time was the US Secretary of [Energy], but she was also the governor of my home state. And so we got a chance to talk about Michigan.”
The Northeastern Address
Perhaps Reverend Taylor’s most thrilling moment: “I was invited by Northeastern University to deliver the commencement address for the School of Science. To stand there among undergraduate, graduate, even PhD candidates to deliver that address was just—it’s still a thrill. I have the picture in my office.”
For a faith leader to be invited to address science graduates represents a powerful validation of the interconnection between spiritual values and scientific pursuit.
The Cost of Speaking Truth
Reverend Taylor’s low points reveal the price of holding controversial positions in the clean energy sector.
The First Job Loss
“I was working at Greentown Labs. And unfortunately, because of the stance that I took on the need for incumbents to participate in the clean energy revolution that actually cost me my job.”
Read that again: Reverend Taylor lost his position for advocating that traditional energy companies—the “incumbents”—should participate in the clean energy transition.
The Second Job Loss
“I was working at a different location for one of the region’s largest child development centers. I simply said that if there was an opportunity for oil and gas to partner with this early childhood center in order to make it so that the children who are in care—children who are less than five years old—could one day grow to be job creators and not just persons who are job ready, if that meant that philanthropy was available, I think that we should consider it.”
The board’s response? They deemed it “too political.”
The Controversial Position
Let’s be clear about what Reverend Taylor was actually advocating:
He believes oil and gas companies should be able to:
- Partner with clean energy organizations
- Provide philanthropy to communities
- Help children in underserved areas access opportunities
- Participate in the energy transition
The Rationale
“Is it not the prerogative of oil and gas to be able to give and to be able to help to make a difference, particularly in those communities that are most impacted by climate change?”
Reverend Taylor’s argument isn’t that oil and gas companies are environmental heroes. It’s that:
- They have resources
- Communities need those resources
- The communities most impacted by climate change need help NOW
- Excluding willing participants from the solution doesn’t serve those communities
The Clean Energy Orthodoxy
Many in the clean energy movement maintain that accepting money or partnerships from fossil fuel companies represents collaboration with the enemy—that it provides social license to companies that should be opposed, not partnered with.
Reverend Taylor challenges this orthodoxy by asking: Who does this purity test actually serve? If a community needs resources and an oil company wants to provide them, who benefits from rejecting that help?
The Just Transition Question
Reverend Taylor’s position touches on a fundamental tension in the energy transition:
The Ideological Position: Fossil fuel companies are responsible for climate change. They should not be partners in the solution. Accepting their money or collaboration legitimizes their continued operations.
The Pragmatic Position: The transition must happen quickly. Communities need resources now. Oil and gas companies have capital, technical expertise, and workforce that could be redirected toward clean energy. Excluding them slows the transition and harms the communities we claim to serve.
The Middle Ground?
Reverend Taylor seems to occupy a middle position: hold companies accountable for harm while allowing them to participate in solutions, particularly when that participation directly benefits impacted communities.
This nuanced stance—neither defending fossil fuel companies nor demonizing them to the point of refusing all engagement—may be precisely what gets him fired. Nuance doesn’t fit neatly into organizational brand positioning.
The Roller Coaster Philosophy
Despite two job losses for speaking his truth, Reverend Taylor maintains optimism:
“There were definitely some lows in this work. But I’m thankful for the highs. And I believe that just like a roller coaster, that what goes down will have to come up again. And so I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”
Faith in Action
This isn’t just metaphorical optimism—it’s faith in action. Reverend Taylor’s religious conviction provides resilience through professional setbacks that might break others.
When you believe your work serves a higher purpose—environmental stewardship as biblical mandate—temporary job losses become obstacles rather than endpoints.
Key Takeaways from Reverend Taylor’s Journey
1. Environmental stewardship is a biblical mandate. “We were given one Earth—it’s our responsibility to take good care of it.”
2. Churches are underutilized solar opportunities. Perfect candidates face funding barriers that creative partnerships could solve.
3. Nonprofit tax exclusion creates inequity. Organizations serving communities can’t access the incentives that make solar affordable.
4. The just transition requires uncomfortable partnerships. Excluding willing participants may harm the communities we claim to serve.
5. Speaking truth has costs. Reverend Taylor lost two jobs for advocating controversial positions—but maintained his integrity.
6. Orthodoxy can be counter-productive. Purity tests that exclude potential allies may slow the very transition we need.
7. Faith provides resilience. Religious conviction helps weather professional setbacks.
8. Communities need resources now. Waiting for ideal partners means communities suffer longer.
Why This Episode Matters
Reverend Kevin Taylor represents a voice largely absent from clean energy conversations: faith-based environmental advocacy that prioritizes community needs over ideological purity.
His willingness to advocate for partnerships between oil and gas companies and clean energy organizations—knowing it would cost him professionally—demonstrates rare courage in an industry where orthodoxy often trumps pragmatism.
Whether you agree with his position or not, Reverend Taylor forces us to grapple with uncomfortable questions:
- Who benefits from excluding fossil fuel companies from transition partnerships?
- Do our purity tests serve communities or just our own moral positioning?
- Can we hold companies accountable while allowing them to participate in solutions?
- Is environmental stewardship a political issue or a moral imperative?
For faith communities considering solar adoption, Reverend Taylor offers both practical insights about barriers and theological grounding for environmental action.
For clean energy professionals, he challenges the assumption that everyone must think alike about who belongs in the conversation and what partnerships are permissible.
And for all of us navigating the energy transition, Reverend Taylor reminds us that the roller coaster goes up and down—but faith, conviction, and commitment to serving communities can carry us through the valleys toward the next peak.
Listen to the Full Episode
Ready to hear Reverend Taylor’s full perspective? Listen to this thought-provoking episode of The Solar Coaster on your favorite podcast platform:
Connect with Reverend Kevin Taylor
Learn more about Reverend Taylor’s work:
- Website: revkttaylor.com
- LinkedIn: Reverend Kevin Taylor
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