NEWS - Computers & Technology

Bulloch's Solar Farm Continues Its Expansion

SBJ Staff Report

June 20, 2011 - With the recent signature of Gov. Nathan Deal, Georgia’s solar energy tax credit is increasing to $5 million annually for 2012, 2013 and 2014 from the current $2.5 million yearly limit. The new law, which the General Assembly approved last month, is anticipated to help ensure that the vibrant solar energy industry in Georgia continues to thrive, creating jobs and new investment opportunities statewide.

Simon Solar Farm, a new $75 million, 250-acre solar farm development just east of Social Circle, GA, south of Athens, moved another step closer to reality last week. It is anticipated that the farm will have 150 acres of solar panels and produce enough power for 4,500 Atlanta homes. The development will have its own electric sub-station and will sell its electricity to Georgia Power. The University of Georgia has worked closely with the developer.

Businesses are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in tax credits to offset the cost of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generating systems and homeowners are eligible to receive up to $10,500 in tax credits for residential solar energy systems. The tax credits must be taken over four years. If the $5 million ceiling is reached in any year, eligible taxpayers on a waiting list will have priority over taxpayers that apply for the credits in subsequent years.

The Georgia Department of Revenue will determine other administrative details about the tax credits.

Greg Chafee, Georgia Solar Energy Association (GSEA) board member and head of the Energy Practice at Morris Manning & Martin, said Gov. Deal’s leadership made a crucial difference in creating the new solar investment opportunity.

“Thanks to support from Gov. Deal, Senate Floor Leader Ronnie Chance (Rpeachtree City), and Representative David Knight, (R, Griffin) Chairman of the Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation, a robust solar energy industry in Georgia will generate employment, improve and diversify our energy infrastructure and bring the latest in technological innovation to the state,” Chafee said.

Anthony Coker, senior director for Suniva, Inc., an Atlanta-based solar panel manufacturer and vice chairman of GSEA, said the increased solar tax credits will help Georgia compete in the economic development market with a meaningful ripple effect on the state’s economy.

GSEA board member Sylvia Minton, senior vice president for Mage Solar, a German solar manufacturer with a production facility in Dublin, and board member James Marlow, CEO of Radiance Solar, as well as GSEA State Program Director Joy Kramer attended the signing ceremony at the Georgia State Capitol.

In 2010, clean energy tax credits totaling almost $2 million were awarded to 47 solar PV projects and 90 solar water heating installations in Georgia. The tax credits helped to develop major new solar energy projects including:

• Choate Construction Company Headquarters Building, Atlanta, 74 KW capacity, designed and built by Empower Energy Technology, Atlanta, $575,000 preincentive value.

• White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Ga., beef processing facility, 50,000 watt capacity, $326,000 pre-incentive value, designed and built by Hannah Solar, Atlanta.

• Persimmon Creek Vineyards, sustainable winery in Clayton, GA, solar array designed and built by Radiance Solar, Atlanta.

On June 24, the Solar Summit at Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center will be held.

A $75 million solar development being planned near metro Atlanta will generate enough clean power to light up about 4,500 homes.

Bulloch County’s Tabby Power Continues Its Expansion
Locally, The Tabby Power Company in Bulloch County, owned by Dr. Sidney Smith and Dr. Pat Godbey, continues to add panels as part of a five year expansion plan. The solar farm opened in 2009 and leases panels in one-quarter acre increments to local residents. When complete, there will be 92 poles per acre with 372 panels total per acre.

“Most of the solar system cost is the initial equipment to purchase including the inverter (which changes DC sun power to AC electricity which you have in your home) and a transformer which changes AC power into the form transmissible on Georgia Power lines,” according to the doctors. “By sharing interconnection costs, the system becomes more affordable and by developing the grid pattern for clients, future panels can be added more economically.

“This arrangement decreases your expense of legal fees and building an interconnection facility…thus minimizing the largest financial block to remote solar systems,” they state. 

Tabby Power charges an initial assessment and then an annual fee covering liability insurance and Georgia Power’s fees to maintain the interconnection system. Georgia Power charges an additional fee of $2.68 for individual company meters. Maintenance of the panels and inverter is handled by One World Sustainable.

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