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Agrimerica & AAA Private Self Storage – GA

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Rural Georgia businesses establish energy independence through solar

By: Gabe Hutchison

Solar energy is a valuable tool for businesses looking to lower fixed costs and prevent the rising price of energy from affecting their bottom line. In addition to federal renewable energy tax credits, rural business owners can seek funding for solar projects through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

In 2022, John Paulk capitalized on these incentives and installed a solar array on the roof of Agrimerica Farm and Construction, an agriculture and construction equipment dealership he owns in Carrollton, Georgia. Through REAP, Agrimerica received $73,000 in grant funding, more than half of the  $128,400 total cost of the project. He saved an additional 30 percent on the system via the commercial Investment Tax Credit (ITC). These incentives proved crucial in helping John go solar, without them “I wouldn’t have spent all that money,” he said.  

Going solar has lowered the business’s average monthly electric bill from $1,140 to $271. It has also insulated them from rising electricity rates, a primary motivator behind the solar installation. “I’m hedging against the price increases the power companies keep putting out,” said John. “They’re raising prices per kilowatt [hour] drastically each year and they keep getting approval from the Public Service Commission.”

After seeing the benefits of solar firsthand, John decided to install an array on another business he owns in Carrollton—AAA Private Self Storage. REAP and the ITC helped John save on the cost of this project, with a new system that is projected to reduce AAA’s monthly electricity costs by $2,800.

John’s experience highlights both the immediate and long-term benefits solar can offer rural businesses. By tapping into federal incentives like REAP and the ITC, he was able to reduce upfront costs and make solar a practical, cost-saving solution for both Agrimerica and AAA Private Self Storage. “The biggest advantage that I looked at was stability and the costs per kilowatt-hour,” John explained. Running on distributed renewable energy has lowered his energy bills, and also shielded both businesses from the volatility of rising energy prices–now and for the foreseeable future.

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