Through the Georgia Solar Program, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) awarded $223,728 in rebates to six organizations to increase awareness and education about renewable energy production.

The Georgia Solar Program provides rebates to cities, counties, and K-12 schools to reimburse the cost of materials, design, and installation of ground mount, pole mount, or rooftop solar. Each rebate provides up to 50 percent of the project cost for up to 60 kilowatt (kW) of solar power. The program also requires detailed energy savings tracking, educational components, and community support.

The following organizations will receive Georgia Solar Program rebates:

  • United Government of Athens-Clarke County: $50,000 for a 60 kW rooftop solar installation at Fire Station #4; estimated savings of 84,020 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year and $8,227 per year.
  • City of Calhoun in partnership with Calhoun City Schools: $50,000 for a 30 kW ground mount solar installation at the Utility Operations Building; estimated savings of 40,821 kWh per year and a $4,214 estimated savings per year.
  • City Schools of Decatur: $20,000 for a 20 kW rooftop mount installation at Tally Street Upper Elementary School; estimated savings of 28,554 kWh per year and $2,518 per year.
  • Liberty County School System: $42,500 for a 25 kW pole mount solar installation at Lyman Elementary School in Hinesville; estimated savings of 36,342 kWh per year and $4,216 estimated savings per year.
  • Savannah-Chatham County Public School System: $12,217.50 for a 5.3 kW pole mount installation at Garrison School for the Arts; estimated savings of 8,273 kWh per year and $702 annual savings.
  • City of Tucker: $49,010.50 for a 45 kW roof mount installation at the Tucker Recreation Center; estimated savings of 61,062 kWh per year and $7,773 estimated savings.

In total, the six projects will install 185.3 kW of solar power. Program savings include more than 259,000 kWh of energy per year and more than $27,000 in cost savings per year. Savings were estimated using the U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s solar calculator—pvwatts.nrel.gov.