Solar Panel Company Wants BOE To Re-consider Request

A company that has spent months trying to convince the Stephens County Board of Education to allow it to place solar panels on land near Stephens County High School is asking the school board to consider its proposal one more time.

United Renewable Energy President William Silva has written an open letter to the Stephens County Board of Education.

In that open letter, Silva asked the Board of Education to take another look at the Alpharetta company’s proposal to place solar panels on school system property located near Stephens County High School.

U-R-E proposes to lease the property from the school system for a period of 20 years, with a five-year company option after that, then place solar panels on the site and sell the power that is created to Georgia Power as part of that company’s solar energy initiative.

Silva said he feels this project can still be a win-win for both sides.

“It is a really unique opportunity to add a lot of economic benefit with no cost at all to the school system,” said Silva. “We just want to make sure that the school board understands the full gravity of what they have with an opportunity today that may not be available next year or the year after that.”

Last month, the Board of Education voted 4 to 3 to turn down this same proposal from URE.

One of the main concerns expressed by board members was tying up a piece of school system property for 25 years and affecting future boards.

Silva said that he understands that perspective, but chooses to look at it differently.

“If they do not have current plans to build or develop those properties, 25 years sounds like a long time, but the time it would take to develop plans and construct the site would take a period of time,” said Silva.

Also, Silva said that the only way to finance a $1.5 million project is with the certainty that the project would continue to operate for its intended purpose for a long period of time.

In his letter to the school board, Silva again cited the revenue the school system would receive as a main benefit.

He said that over a 25-year period, the school system would receive a total of over $377,000.

Silva said that money would come in two forms.

One is rent and bonus payments, while the second is tax revenue from the solar panels, which would be taxable property.

Silva also argued in his letter that the project would contribute to the school system’s educational mission, including providing data on solar production and weather that students can use to track production of solar energy.

According to Silva, U-R-E continues to pursue the necessary land use permits through Stephens County, as the school board had granted them permission to do before voting down the proposed lease.

The Stephens County Planning Commission is expected to take that matter up on Tuesday.

In his letter, Silva asked the Board of Education to reconsider the proposed lease by October 15.