Solar Energy in Rural Georgia: Opportunities for Landowners

Tifton Conference Center, Rooms 6/7

UGA Extension to host a private land solar energy workshop in Tifton

Solar energy has become an important and cost-competitive part of the nation’s diverse energy portfolio, and that has given Georgians a new opportunity to earn income off their land. Utility-scale solar energy production requires the installation of panels across large areas of land. Luckily, Georgia’s rural counties have plenty of acres that could be used for solar energy production —if the right opportunity presents itself.

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension will offer a collaborative workshop, “Solar Energy in Rural Georgia: Opportunities for Landowners” in March to help landowners understand the benefits and possible liabilities of hosting solar panels on their land. Speakers from UGA Extension, Georgia Tech, USDA and The University of Tulsa will cover what landowners and communities need to consider before they decide to install solar panels or contract with a solar energy company. This free workshop will be held at the Tifton Conference Center on Thursday, March 26, 2020. The public is welcome, but registration is required. For questions about the workshop, please contact Amanda Smith (aziehl@uga.edu, (229) 386-3512). Attendees can register here: https://events.attend.com/f/1383791650.

Workshop Agenda:

9:00-9:05          Introduction (Mark McCann, UGA)

9:05-9:30          Keynote – The State of Solar in Georgia- Ray C. Anderson Foundation

9:30-9:55          Planning for Solar at Any Scale: GA's Model Solar Ordinance and Some Rooftop Experiences." (Dr. Rich Simmons, Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute)

9:55-10:20        Does solar fit my operation? (John Worley, UGA)

10:20-10:40      Break

10:40-11:05      Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants (Lance Young, USDA/Rural Business Service)

11:05-11:30      Landowner’s Experience and Perspective (Donald Chase, Macon County)

11:30-11:55      Real Property and Leasing Issues during the Lifecycle of Solar Projects (Buford Pollett, University of Tulsa)

11:55-12:20      An Examination of Opportunity Costs (Amanda Smith, UGA)

12:20 pm          Wrap-up/Takeaways (Mark McCann)

12:30                Adjourn