Historic downtown Albany building powered by new solar panels
- Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission Vice President Justin Strickland, left, and President Ted Clem inspect the new solar panels recently installed on the rooftop of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, where the EDC keeps its offices. The 22-panel, 5 kW system will produce enough energy to nearly offset an average-size home’s footprint.
For Immediate Release
February 15, 2012
Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission
Solar panels power historic downtown Albany building
Albany, Ga. – The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, in conjunction with the Albany Water, Gas & Light Commission and the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, has installed a 5 kW solar panel system atop one of Albany’s most prominent historic downtown buildings.
The 22 235-watt Suniva modules will have an estimated total annual output of 6,755 kWh, which is enough to nearly offset an average-size home’s footprint.
The panels are on the flat rooftop of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce building, where the energy produced by the panels runs through an inverter box and is directly consumed, thereby reducing the amount of energy the building pulls from the local energy grid.
“Albany has 224 sunny days per year, compared to a national average of 205 days, making it an ideal location for solar energy production,” said Ted Clem, CEcD, president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission. “Albany and Southwest Georgia are ripe with renewable energy sources, and these panels are a great way for our city to showcase its potential in an industry that continues to expand.”
The systems were funded in part through a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority applied for the grant on behalf of the Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG) and the latter’s municipalities, which include the Albany Water, Gas & Light Commission. System costs not covered by the grant were supplied by WG&L.
“Albany Water, Gas & Light provides everything from water to electricity to fiber optics, and we’re thrilled to be able to bring this solar panel program to our community,” said Lee Hauesler, assistant general manager of the Albany Water, Gas & Light Commission, ECG’s largest municipal user.
Through the grant, about 15 of the Suniva systems, manufactured in Norcross, Ga., have been installed throughout the state by Radiance Solar of Atlanta.
The panels will be active indefinitely.