Firm chosen for solar project

Atlanta-based company part of Tybee initiative for Chatham customers.

Tybee Island officials Thursday chose Atlanta-based Hannah Solar to provide discounted solar power to customers across Chatham County as part of their Solarize Tybee initiative.

Hannah Solar was selected over one other bidder to provide and install solar panels for the bulk purchase program. A memorandum of understanding will need to be signed by the contractor before participants can sign up.

According to bidding information provided by Hannah Solar, the panels could cost anywhere from $2 to $2.95 per watt to purchase and install, depending on the wattage generated by participants.

All participants will be charged the same price per watt, so the more participants who sign on to the program, the less each will be charged. For some participants, costs could be further reduced with federal tax credits.

Although it began as an island initiative, Solarize Tybee has since been extended to all residents, businesses and governmental entities of Chatham County. Solarize Tybee will be the first program of its kind in Georgia.

Councilman Paul Wolff said enrollment for the program will continue through mid-April.

Wolff, a driving force behind Solarize Tybee, said this week he’s been encouraged by the interest shown in the program. Though hesitant to guess how many residents, businesses and government agencies might participate, Wolff said he’s hopeful that between 500 and 1,000 people will sign up during the next couple of months.

“We’re confident that with Hannah’s expertise, customer service and price proposal, Solarize Tybee will have a significant impact on increasing distributed solar power throughout Chatham County and coastal Georgia, saving property owners thousands of dollars in the process,” the councilman said in a prepared statement.

Information about the program is also available online at www.solarizetybee.org.