Mondays, especially the rainy ones, aren’t particularly known for their greatness. A good Monday, however, can set the tone for a wonderful week ahead.
When I first signed up as a Solar Ambassador with RE-volv, I had concerns around the viability of a project in Georgia given the less-than-ideal rooftop solar policy here. For instance, our main energy provider, Georgia Power, limits its net metering program to only 5,000 participants, which the Public Service Commission failed to expand this past December despite the program’s popularity. On top of this cap, Georgia Power only credits solar users for the excess energy they produce at a rate of 6.68 cents per kWh, which is roughly half of what Georgia Power customers pay for their energy. Even so, I was curious to see how things might turn out, and I figured the team would learn from the experience no matter the outcome.
The team of Solar Ambassadors at Georgia Tech has been working diligently towards our goal of committing a Georgia nonprofit to rooftop solar, and, lucky for us, we are learning that there is abundant interest. But when the RE-volv team found that the numbers weren’t favorable for our first lead, I’ll admit I felt a little defeated. I thought my initial fears were correct and that our team might not reach our goal. Just a few weeks later, however, I heard back from the solar account manager at RE-volv who shared that, after revisiting the drawing board, our second lead might be a contender for solar.
This hopeful second lead is Atlanta Mission, a homeless shelter in Atlanta. We are aiming to bring solar to their new facility called Restoration House, a shelter dedicated to women and children. Restoration House features trauma-informed design to provide a safe, private, and empowering atmosphere for their clients.
After we obtained energy bills from Restoration House, the team at RE-volv started working with a local solar installer to set out plans for a project. To our team’s delight, the solar consultant with Creative Solar reached out and asked if our team would like to tag along at the solar evaluation.
My teammate Allison Vermaak and I visited Restoration House on a Monday morning in February, where we met the solar consultant, Kevin Stam, and the facilities director for Atlanta Mission. First, we visited the electrical room to discuss where the inverters might be installed and how the solar system would plug into the building’s electrical panel. Then, we made our way up to the roof so Kevin could take some photos. Even with the overcast sky, the bright white of the large, flat roof meant we were all squinting as we walked around. Kevin explained that a flat roof simplifies the solar installation, since the solar mounts won’t need to penetrate the roof to stay put.
The process isn’t done yet. After Creative Solar completes their evaluation, the RE-volv team will pitch the proposal to Atlanta Mission. If Atlanta Mission accepts the proposal, we would still be a few months away from equipping the roof for solar energy harvest.
Standing on that bare roof, overlooking the Atlanta skyline and the busy streets of my neighborhood, I felt excited for the potential solar installation that could one day save money for the nonprofit below us and increase the distributed solar capacity in my home state. I felt grateful that I stumbled upon the RE-volv Solar Ambassador opportunity and amazed with how much I have learned from the experience so far. Most of all, I am inspired by those who dedicate their time and careers towards renewable energy. These people show me that I am far from alone in my vision for a clean and just energy future. We are all in this together, and that sense of synergy is comforting and invigorating all at once. Needless to say, it was a good Monday.
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