Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

South Fulton says new program means paying less for solar energy

Scott Starowicz, SAE’s chief financial officer, walks past the school’s solar panel array. The pre-K-8 school in Mableton is believed to be the first elementary school in the state with plans to be powered 100% by solar energy. Sustainability efforts are integrated into the school’s curriculum. BOB ANDRES / ROBERT.ANDRES@AJC.COM
Scott Starowicz, SAE’s chief financial officer, walks past the school’s solar panel array. The pre-K-8 school in Mableton is believed to be the first elementary school in the state with plans to be powered 100% by solar energy. Sustainability efforts are integrated into the school’s curriculum. BOB ANDRES / ROBERT.ANDRES@AJC.COM
By Ben Brasch
Feb 27, 2020

South Fulton leaders on Tuesday approved an agreement with a company set to install solar panels on city buildings and sell back the energy at a reduced rate.

Since 2015 when General Assembly approved legislature to increase solar access, Cherry Street Energy has also struck deals with the cities of Atlanta, Macon and Jekyll Island.

READ | As environmentalism evolves, blacks make voices heard

Cherry Street will maintain panels at Welcome All and Sandtown parks.

Then the city will buy the power back for less than it is currently paying. A city news release said this could reduce the energy costs of South Fulton, which incorporated in 2017, by 10% to 15% over two decades.

“As we continue to grow, we want to ensure that growth is smart,” said Mayor Bill Edwards.

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About the Author

Ben Brasch is the reporter tasked with keeping Fulton County government accountable. The Florida native moved to Atlanta for a job with The AJC. If there's something important to you going on in Fulton, he wants to know about it. Help him better metro Atlanta by dropping a line, anonymously or otherwise.

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