Solar Energy in Georgia, Bringing Some Truths to Light
By James Marlow CEO of Radiance Solar and Vice Chair of the GA Solar Energy Association
The eyes of the global press are focused on the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen as world leaders work to set benchmarks for global carbon reduction. Here in Georgia, we are working to create jobs, reduce carbon, and generate positive economic impact with solar energy technology. Much like the Climate Change Summit, we too are engaged in a struggle to separate fact from fiction in the ongoing debate concerning renewable energy.
In the past few months we’ve heard state officials, utility spokespeople, and even business columnists saying, “I support renewables. But they’re not sustainable or effective in our state.” Renewable energy, particularly solar energy, has been plagued for years by the perpetuation of myths and half-truths such as these.
On the technology side, industry experts estimate that the cost of panels dropped nearly 30 percent during this past year. GreenTechMedia projects prices to fall another 50 percent in coming years, bringing solar into cost-parity with the coal powered grid and allowing the industry to stand on its own legs, free of any government support.
Also working for solar are the millions of dollars being made available via federal and state incentives to spur renewable energy investment in government, education, non-profit, and the private sector.
For example, GEFA (Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority) is currently in the process of distributing close to $10 million in stimulus funds to support renewable energy in the state of Georgia. Their plan makes available $4.5 million for clean energy grants and an additional $4 million in competitive energy grants for what they deem “large, visible, & shovel-ready projects.” These state grants for 35 percent of a system’s cost, combined with existing federal incentives for 30 percent of a system’s cost, make for a compelling business case for solar energy. Few of the naysayers have taken the time to crunch these numbers.
One of the other most oft-repeated solar misconceptions is that Georgia doesn’t have enough sun to make solar a viable solution. Whoever subscribes to this line of reasoning need only park their car on Peachtree Street for an hour during the summer months. They will quickly abandon that theory.
The truth is that Georgia is in fact a sun-belt state and receives an average of 5+ solar sun hours a day, independently verified by the Department of Energy, NASA, NREL, and Georgia Tech. Germany, the world leader in solar energy, receives only two solar hours a day yet has built a world-class solar industry and now leads the globe in solar installation and manufacturing. The same is true regarding limited solar hours in Chicago, New Jersey, and yes, even Canada. Conversely, there is an abundant and effective solar resource in our state, as shown by the over 450 successful solar energy systems currently operational in Georgia, 75 of which were showcased in September as part of the National Solar Tour.
If any argument is to be made regarding Georgia’s lack of natural resources, it ought be noted that we import 100 percent of the coal used to create the state’s electricity. There would be no need to import sunshine.
The final solar urban-legend is that the state simply doesn’t have the infrastructure to support a renewable energy industry. Again, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Hundreds of institutions stand ready to assist in the development of this industry; Georgia Tech, Emory, Southface and the Southeastern Energy Efficiency Alliance, just to name a few. The propagation of solar energy in Georgia promises to create a substantial number of high-tech, green jobs and an opportunity to retrain workers across the state in the cutting-edge field of renewable energy.
Already Georgia finds itself falling behind its neighbors with regard to investment in renewable energy. The largest solar installation in North America went online a few weeks ago just a short distance from us in Florida. The 25 MW DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center will be joined by a 10 MW plant near NASA on Space Coast. Several other commercial solar plants are currently being expanded just to the north of us in North Carolina, where state support for renewables has long outstripped our own in Georgia and has created over 10,250 cleantech jobs. With equal, if not superior solar resources and internal infrastructure, there is no reason Georgia should not be in the same league as these states.
It is time that Georgia’s policy makers and citizens pay attention to what the rest of the world has known for quite some time: solar works, solar is affordable, and there has never been a better time to take advantage of the sun’s resources in Georgia. With buy-in from the public, politicians, and utilities, Georgia has the potential to become a powerhouse, so to speak, for solar energy in the United States -- and that’s a truth that must be brought to light.
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Marlow is CEO of Atlanta-based Radiance Solar and Vice Chair of the GA Solar Energy Association.
916 Joseph Lowery Blvd, Suite 2, Atlanta, GA 30318 404.213.0718
james.marlow@radiancesolar.com
www.radiancesolar.com
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