Stephens County Jail to operate on Solar Energy

By the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office – Georgia

Early this year, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners (SC BOC) approved a solar panel project at the Stephens County Jail. The goal of the project is to benefit Stephens County taxpayers by minimizing jail operation costs.

In 2024, the daily operations budget for the Stephens County Jail was $2.55 million. This budget is how Stephens County pays for necessary jail functions such as power, medical, housing, kitchen, supplies, hygiene, and more. At the end of 2024, electrical expenses to power the jail reached $82,000.

In March of 2025, the SC BOC and Stephens County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) partnered with energy contractor GRP-Wegman to install solar technology in a lot near the Stephens County Jail. Administrators completed their final inspections in early December following a months-long project. The solar project is set to go live Friday afternoon, December 12, 2025, directly benefitting the county and its taxpayers.

By implementing solar panel technology at the Stephens County Jail, the SC BOC and SCSO anticipate an immediate reduction in the cost of electricity for jail operations. The installation of these panels, which cost approximately $1.1 million, will produce a 30% immediate offset of expenses. The panels are insured for 30 years, and the SC BOC projects a 106% offset for the annual electrical bill at the jail while the panels are active. As a result, the success of this project will ultimately benefit Stephens County taxpayers each year.

“The installation of these panels will directly tie into and offset the jail expenses for electricity…” said County Administrator Christian Hamilton. “We anticipate an immediate reduction in the cost of electricity at the jail, offsetting the cost to the Stephens County taxpayers for their overall support of county operations.”

According to County Administrator Hamilton, the project was made possible by taking advantage of available county funds and a federal solar investment tax credit.

“We are able to take advantage of investment tax credit offered by the Trump Administration, which will rebate 30% of the total cost of the project to us once panels go online,” said County Administrator Hamilton. 

Throughout the process, Sheriff Rusty Fulbright and Stephens County Jail Commander Nathan Peek have assisted County Administrator Hamilton and GRP-Wegman with the implementation of the solar panel project. This includes meeting with GRP-Wegman and county staff at the onset of the project, coordinating installation, and ultimately determining the outputs and outcomes of the project.

“This solar panel project just makes sense for our community. It cuts our energy costs for the jail, boosts efficiency, and ultimately saves money for the taxpayers,” said Sheriff Rusty Fulbright. “I’m also glad to have such a great working relationship with our Stephens County Board of Commissioners. When everyone is on the same page, good projects like this can move forward.”

Sheriff Rusty Fulbright and the SC BOC look forward to the success of the solar panel project at the Stephens County Jail and the long-term benefit to Stephens County taxpayers.