On April 22, 2009, Earth Day, Georgia’s Governor Sonny Perdue signed HB473, which creates a commercial clean energy grant program for solar, wind, energy efficiency and geothermal heat pump projects. These clean energy grants will also help the private sector meet the state’s goal of reducing energy consumption by 15 percent. HB473 provides monies for projects such as installation of Energy Star certified geothermal heat pump systems; certain lighting retrofit projects; and installation of solar energy equipment for solar electric (photovoltaic), other solar thermal electric applications.

The grant program will be administered by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) and is contingent upon the availability of federal stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Accordingly, Georgia will not know how much money is available until its application for recovery funds is reviewed this summer by the U.S. Department of Energy, although GEFA is expected to receive $82.5 million for the State Energy Program. If you have any questions about HB473, including how to apply for such grants, please contact Steve O’Day or Phillip Hoover.