Chatsworth’s solar panels are shown below. “We were the first one in the state to go through GEFA for solar installation, and now about 14 or 15 municipalities have applied for GEFA funding for solar installation at wastewater and water plants,” said Chatsworth Water Works General Manager Stephen Smith.Ringgold has several improvement projects on the drawing board, including exploring the possibility of changing some of the biggest power users in town over to solar power.
The City Council recently voted to visit a solar field in Chatsworth and to gather information on potential funding sources for the proposed changeover.
“We have not voted to move forward on solar power yet,” Mayor Nick Millwood said. “I brought up numbers of specific solar companies. I talked about the cost of solar panels and the amount of time to make that money back. So right now we are researching other government bodies that have implemented these strategies in order to make the most informed decision we can. If we can implement what Chatsworth has done, it will be a big cost savings to our taxpayers and ultimately keep our taxes low like they should be.”
Chatsworth Water Works recently installed five acres of solar panels, enough to power the main office and nearby water treatment plant, said General Manager Stephen Smith. He estimates the project, which cost $2.2 million to install and get up and running, will save $4 million to $5 million over the panels’ expected 25-year lifespan. Those savings come from not having to pay for electricity – and selling surplus back to Georgia Power.
Smith believes the project will be cash-positive within its first year of operation.