Arnall Golden Gregory's Renewable and Alternative Energy Practice recently assisted with two significant solar energy projects in Georgia: a 1.1 megawatt system for the Dublin City School District that will be the largest photovoltaic system in Middle Georgia, and the sale of a 7.7 megawatt solar energy development project in Washington County by client Jacoby Development.

Groundbreaking for Dublin's system took place on March 11; Jacoby Development's sale of its project to Dominion Resources was announced on March 1.

Dominion will build the Azalea Solar Power Facility and sell the power to Cobb Electric Membership Corp., one of the largest electric cooperatives in the state. Power production is expected to begin late this year.

Dublin's system will be spread out over the Dublin High School campus and include rooftop arrays, ground mounts and dual axis trackers.

"The Dublin project utilized a unique legal structure and was the first in Georgia to be financed with taxable bonds," John L. Gornall Jr., Co-Chair of Arnall Golden Gregory's ("AGG") Renewable and Alternative Energy Practice, said.

Dr. Chuck Ledbetter, Superintendent of Dublin City Schools, said the solar power system will help contain costs. "As educators struggle with decreasing revenues, the ability to not only reduce operating costs with solar power but also to essentially stabilize our energy costs for the next 25 years is a huge benefit to our school system," he said. "This will allow us to focus more of our resources on our primary mission - student learning."

Arnall Golden Gregory's Neil P. Mulcahy also worked on the Dublin project, and Scott A. Fisher, Mark A. Gould Jr., and Andrew J. Schutt worked on the Jacoby Development transaction.

AGG's Renewable and Alternative Energy Practice represents owners, developers and financiers of all types of alternative energy projects, such as solar, wind and biomass. The team also works with investors as well as with manufacturers of project components.

The Renewable and Alternative Energy attorneys keep abreast of federal and state tax credits and grants so clients can take full advantage of financing options for projects that ultimately improve our lives.