Leesburg ordinance obstructs solar power

LEESBURG — The Leesburg City Council met Tuesday to hear and discuss matters that pertain to business, transportation, development and the FY 2019 budget, but a presentation from a Georgia-based solar energy company became the focal point of the meeting.

Radiance Solar presented plans for a solar array on private property within the city of Leesburg. As of now, Leesburg and Lee County ordinances do not allow solar farms in any of the city and county zoning districts. City officials would have to agree to make an amendment allowing a solar array to be built in Leesburg for Radiance Solar to begin its project.

Attorney Newton Galloway of Galloway & Lyndall in Griffin, brought to question a citizen’s right to use his or her own private property.

“From what I know about solar energy, Lee County would be blessed to have this project,” Doug Wingate, whose property the solar array would exist on, said. The solar array would be tied to his Georgia Power meter to allow generation to occur.

“The highlights of this project, really, what we’re doing is investing in the economy of Lee County,” Thatcher Young, vice president of business development for Radiance Solar, said. “We’re going to bring a million-dollar investment that will be an addition to the tax base.”

Radiance Solar will pay taxes in Leesburg for the 35-year duration of the solar array connected with Georgia Power.

Young explained to the City Council that, rather than being a business that would leech tax money and resources from the city, it would only provide clean, solar energy. The solar array would be “nice and nestled in the woods.” The array is silent and should not negatively impact nearby residents while providing clean energy to Wingate’s business, according to Radiance officials.

Solar energy in Georgia is competitively bid and market priced, according to Galloway.

“The price for solar in Georgia right now is between 3 and 4 cents,” Galloway explained to the council. “Though they will not say it publicly, the price for Vogtle will probably be 12 to 16 (cents).”

Radiance Solar has initiated more than 100 projects of this size across the state of Georgia. The proposed Leesburg project is roughly 5 acres, which is relatively small compared to other projects across the state. Radiance Solar currently has solar plants in Camilla, Donalsonville and Arlington. A solar array, which also collects solar energy, is much smaller than a solar plant.

Because solar energy is relatively new, the lifespan of the equipment is unknown. Support for the panels is galvanized steel and aluminum. The council members expressed concern about the equipment, but Radiance Solar officials said the company would manage and upgrade the equipment as needed over the next 35 years.

Radiance Solar has only a few months to work with the city to amend the ordinances before Georgia Power’s deadline in the fall for the Leesburg project. Through the city/county Planning Commission, Radiance Solar will submit an application for the City Council to review.

Rozanne Braswell, director of Planning, Zoning & Engineering for Lee County, is waiting to get more information from reports from Emory Law, the University of Georgia and Georgia Technical College before she can recommend the council even consider amending the ordinances in favor of solar energy development.

Radiance Solar will work with the Planning and Zoning Department to make an official application.

Gypsy Crow