ATL Standard

State Representative Beth Camp has been appointed as the chair of the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Ad Hoc Committee on Community Solar. The appointment was made by Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee Chairman Don Parsons.

In response to her new role, Rep. Camp expressed her gratitude and highlighted the importance of community solar, stating, “Community solar is rapidly growing across the country, and after I introduced House Bill 1152, The Georgia Homegrown Solar Act, we saw the need to further the discussion on this important topic. We will spend time over the interim studying this issue to perfect legislation for consideration during the 2025 legislative session.”

The creation of the Community Solar Ad Hoc Committee followed Rep. Camp’s introduction of House Bill 1152, also known as the Georgia Homegrown Solar Act of 2024. The bill aims to allow customers of an electric utility to aggregate demand from multiple locations and subscribe to certain off-site solar facilities, provide nondiscriminatory interconnection of these facilities, and offer consumer protections for customers. Additionally, the bill would establish a framework for community solar providers to operate within the state, with regulations to be determined by the Public Service Commission.

In explaining the benefits of community solar, it was noted that in other states, community solar providers are compensated by utility companies for the energy generated through their solar panels. Subscribers receive a credit on their electricity bill based on the value generated by their community solar subscription, which can be utilized by various entities such as landowners, nonprofits, and churches.

Future public meetings of the Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Ad Hoc Committee on Community Solar will be posted online for reference. Those interested in learning more about HB 1152 can access further information by following the provided link.