History 
Established in 2002, the Georgia Solar Energy Association (“GA Solar”) represents more than 300 individuals, businesses and organizations across the state of Georgia promoting the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy through consumer education, advocacy, public policy and industry support. A 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, GA Solar is governed by a board of directors and is the Georgia state chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (“ASES”).
2008
In 2008, GA Solar worked in partnership with the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (“SEEA”) to pass Georgia’s first Clean Energy Property Tax Credit – HB 670. The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (“GEFA”) administers the program which allocates $2.5 million annually for clean energy property including energy efficiency as well as wind, biomass and solar.
2009
GA Solar again in partnership with SEEA worked to pass HB 473 which helped transform federal stimulus funding into useful grants for commercial renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. As a result, $4.5 million in clean energy property rebates was awarded to 14 solar projects in Georgia. Additionally, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”), Georgia was awarded $82.5 million for the State Energy Program which then provided $4 million in clean energy grants to 5 solar energy projects.
GA Solar began to work on regulatory issues in 2009 and again partnered with SEEA to ensure that Georgia Power’s Green Energy Program and its RNR-Tariff met the needs of the solar community. As a result, the Public Service Commission (“PSC”) voted unanimously to increase the cap placed on the amount of solar energy being used to generate electricity for the Georgia Power transmission grid. The cap was increased from 500 kW to 2.5 MWs.
Additionally, GA Solar successfully advocated for the amount of solar contributing to Georgia Power Green Energy Program purchases of premium green energy from 10% to 50% solar-PV content.
Launched the first Southern Solar Summit in Savannah and Atlanta.
GA Solar conducted its annual solar tour and for the first time had over 100 sites statewide participating in the event.
Formalized a partnership with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
2010
GA Solar intervened for the first time in the organization’s history in Georgia Power’s Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”). As a result of our intervention, the following successes were achieved:
- Rather than the Green Energy Program having a cap on the amount of solar energy contributing to Georgia Power’s generation mix, now for every 219 blocks of premium green energy purchased another 100 kWs will be added to the overall total.
- The PSC Staff will conduct an analysis to determine whether or not green energy program participants should be exempted from a percentage of fuel cost adjustment increases that they are off-setting through purchases of green energy.
- Georgia Power agreed to evaluate whether or not a third-party should be retained to better effectively market the Green Energy Program.
GA Solar is also working on developing a multi-year public policy platform of enabling legislation and regulatory requirements to achieve specific annual milestones of installed solar photovoltaic (“PV”) capacity, culminating with over 3,000 megawatts (“MWs”) statewide by 2025.
