Removing Market Barriers To Solar Provides Bright Future For Georgia
 2/10/12
 
 Solar energy is the cleanest, most abundant  renewable energy source available. And we have  strong solar resources shining right here in
Georgia. Today’s technology allows us to capture  this power in several ways giving businesses,  homeowners, schools and government flexible
ways to employ the power of the sun.

Solar energy provides economic and environmental  benefits that make Georgia stronger and  more productive. As a wholly local source of
energy, solar makes us less dependent on foreign  sources of fuel for our energy needs. Solar relies  on an inexhaustible source of power and helps
keep our air and water clean for our children and  grandchildren.

The solar industry provides more than 1700  jobs in Georgia, according to a 2011 Solar  Foundation census. This includes corporations  that manufacture solar cells, solar panels and  mounting systems, businesses that sell and distribute  solar panels, and companies that install and
service them on our businesses and homes here in  Georgia.

The number of businesses interested in investing  in solar has grown exponentially as electricity  rates have skyrocketed and the cost of solar cells  has rapidly decreased over the last year.  That’s why we were excited to see critical legislation  introduced this week in the Georgia
General Assembly to assure a full range of financing  tools for Georgians who want to utilize solar  energy on their property.

Senate Bill 401 amends the Georgia  Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Act of  2001 to clarify that electric power generated by
customers on their premises primarily to meet  their on-site needs can be financed through a  third-party power purchase agreement.  Across the nation, the power purchase agreement  (PPA) is now a preferred form of financing  for solar. Under a typical PPA, a developer  installs a system on a utility customer’s premises  and retains ownership of the system, and the customer  makes monthly payments to the developer  that are calculated based on the amount of electricity  that will be generated. A PPA allows the
customer to choose renewable energy without any  upfront costs or maintenance, and it gives the  developer flexibility in allocating tax and other  financial benefits that are attractive to private  investors.

Senate Bill 401 also expands Georgia’s distributed  generation statute to add biomass, municipal  solid waste, landfill gas and hydropower as eligible  resources and to remove existing caps on the  size of individual projects.

We are excited that our state Senator Ross  Tolleson will be taking up Senate Bill 401 in the  Senate Natural Resources & Environment
Committee, which he chairs. We are confident he  will be a strong supporter of this critical legislation  to promote industry and jobs in Middle  Georgia.
 — The Courier Herald Editorial Board

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Maybe we can get the same support from the Savannah Morning News? Let’s try. Send a copy to the SMN editorial board – and while you’re at it let Savannah City government and  Chatham County and the Chamber of Commerce know.  There are plenty of jobs to be created here. — js