For Immediate Release
Atlanta, GA—February 25, 2020— Today at 3:30 p.m., Solarize Atlanta will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Quest Communities, unveiling a donated solar array. Members of the Atlanta City Council will speak at the community gathering, as well as Nathaniel Smith, Chief Equity Officer of Partnership for Southern Equity. Quest Communities, a West Atlanta affordable housing development, is located at 878 Rock St NW, Atlanta GA, 30314.
Councilman Andre Dickens, Councilman Matt Westmoreland and Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Atlanta, Shelby Buso, will speak about energy burden, solarize programs, and 100% clean energy in Atlanta, respectively.
Solarize Atlanta, which facilitated the donation, is a community-led coalition that includes Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, Environment Georgia, Partnership for Southern Equity, Sierra Club, Southface Institute, Solar Crowdsource and Creative Solar USA. The coalition works to reduce costs and improve accessibility to rooftop solar for metro residents, nearly doubling the amount of residential solar in the city over the last two years. Proceeds from the project funded Quest Communities’ solar array.
Why Quest was selected
Quest Communities’ viable rooftop, the facility’s capacity to educate the community about the benefits of solar and the positive impact that energy savings would make for community residents made it a desirable destination for the donated array. The solar panels were installed earlier this month.
Codi Norred, Program Director for Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, says, “This donated solar array not only provides clean, affordable energy for this community development organization, but it also is a model for the neighborhood and other housing developers about solar’s potential across Atlanta. We are proud to have been a part of this campaign and to see that clean energy is powering Atlanta’s affordable housing market.”
Significant savings for the community
“For the Quest property, the 18kw solar installation is expected to save the organization almost $5,000 a year or more,” says Seth Gunning, solar installer with Creative Solar USA, the company donating the system.
Southface Institute, a leader in promoting resource efficiency in the Southeast, sees affordable housing pricing coupled with utility savings as the key to keeping housing costs sustainable:
“One important way to create such significant savings as part of a total affordability goal is the pairing of efficiency with renewable energy, and Southface is proud to have been part of this effort,” says Andrea Pinabell, President of Southface Institute.
About Solarize Atlanta partners
Solarize Atlanta is a coalition of NGOs and for-profit entities working together to expand access to solar across the city. Partners include:
Southface Institute, promoting sustainable homes, workplaces and communities through education, research, advocacy, and technical assistance. www.southface.org
Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, engaging communities of faith in stewardship of creation and climate action as a witness to faith and as a moral response to climate change and environmental injustice across the state. www.gipl.org
Environment Georgia, working statewide to protect Georgia’s air, water and green spaces. www.environmentgeorgia.org.
Sierra Club, defending our most precious resources and wild places in Georgia. www.sierraclub.org/georgia
Solar Crowdsource, developing community group purchasing programs for solar energy and battery storage while working to improve access to solar for all citizens. www.solarcrowdsource.com
Creative Solar USA, a Georgia-based, turn-key installer of innovative solar panel systems, dedicated to alternative energy solutions for your home or business. www.creativesolarusa.com
For more information, please contact Emily Proctor, Senior Communications Manager, Southface Institute, at eproctor@southface.org.
For more information about Southface or to arrange an interview with our President Andrea Pinabell, members of the media should contact: communications@southface.org.
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