Friday, January 16, 2015

Solarize Dunwoody might be a program worth exploring, following in Tybee Island's foorsteps as the State of Georgia is about to change the law.


Is anyone interested in Solar Power for the home here in Dunwoody, GA?  Tybee Island is doing some innovative contracting partnerships through a City request for proposals (RFP) to allow lower installation costs for their residents.
Solarize Tybee aims to allow more home and business owners than initially anticipated to tap into its collective buying power to reduce the cost of rooftop solar installations.

Solarize programs, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, have helped more than 200 communities around the nation overcome these barriers, including the high initial cost, the complexity of the purchase and the inertia that customers feel when faced with that complexity.

By buying in bulk, the cost of the installation is reduced. Other Solarize programs have resulted in discounts of 5 to 30 percent, Haddix said, and a 30 percent federal tax credit is in place through 2016.

Those incentives can bring the cost of a typical five-kilowatt residential array — big enough to power about half the electricity usage of an average house — below $10,000.
I don't know if this makes sense but I will be asking the City Sustainability Commission to review all options and provide a report to the City Manager.

Tybee, GA Solar RFP:
http://www.cityoftybee.org/2014-656.aspx

Tybee, GA Program
http://www.solarizetybee.org/
http://cityoftybee.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=63bd920e1f33fdd26e5e266b14922bec

GA Power Solar Page:
http://www.georgiapower.com/about-energy/energy-sources/solar/

Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments
https://www4.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/resource_center/resources/solar_powering_your_community_guide_local_governments

Workshop given to ATL City leader in 2012:
http://icma.org/en/icma/knowledge_network/documents/kn/Document/304251/Solar_Powering_Your_Community_Workshop

Website from Dept. of Energy on Solar Outreach:
http://solaroutreach.org/

Solar State Of The State Report: Georgia
http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2013/12/solar-state-state-report-georgia/

News .
Georgia House tees up solar bill- Atlanta Business Chronicle - Jan 13
Solar Compromise Good For Everybody - Peach Pundit - Jan 14
A deal on solar power for Georgia homeowners is unveiled - AJC Jim Galloway
Bill for home solar systems wins early backing - AJC
Thanks To Solar Power, Georgia Utilities Find There's Life After Coal - Forbes

Other resources:
http://www.gpb.org/news/2014/12/12/video-will-solar-powers-surge-georgia-make-it-homeowners
http://www.gasolar.org/
http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/sunshot-initiative

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