The first phase of installation for the 16 hundred solar panels that will be placed on the rooftops of The Classic Center is underway. The Classic Center complex of buildings in downtown Athens is partnering with Cherry Street Energy to build what will be Georgia’s largest municipal rooftop solar energy system.
From Ivy Smith Ramage, Classic Center…
The first phase of the 1,600 solar panels that will be placed on the rooftops of The Classic Center’s buildings is underway. The Classic Center is partnering with Cherry Street Energy to build Georgia’s largest municipal rooftop solar energy system.
The solar panels are projected to provide approximately 36% of The Classic Center facility’s annual electricity use. During this first phase, 952 solar panels will be installed during an estimated 8-week process. The second phase will include an installation of 648 solar panels on the rooftop of The Classic Center Arena, providing an additional 12.5% of the projected annual electricity use for the arena.
· The solar energy system is being built by Cherry Street Energy and provided at no upfront cost to The Classic Center Authority. Instead, The Classic Center and The Classic Center Arena will purchase electricity generated from the solar array at a fixed rate competitive with existing power costs.
· In May 2019, Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz and ACC Commission passed a resolution supporting ACCG’s transition to 100% renewable energy, with a mission to complete this goal by 2035.
· Athens-Clarke County Commission unanimously approved an agreement to allow The Classic Center Authority to contract with Cherry Street Energy in November 2022, as a means of assisting the ACC Commission with meeting this goal to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2035.
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