Southern Alliance for Clean Energy To Lead the “Tour du Soleil” Bicycle Ride in Atlanta
Tour will showcase solar installations representing Georgia’s solar energy progress
Contact: Amelia Shenstone, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, 339-223-0536
Atlanta, Ga. (June 4, 2014) – The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy will lead the first-ever #Bike4Solar event on the evening of Monday, June 9, as part of a week of bicycling activities at the Atlanta Cycling Festival.
Thanks to plummeting solar prices, leadership from the Georgia Public Service Commission, and Georgia Power’s response to customer demands for greater, cleaner electricity options, Georgia is projected to jump from only 20 megawatts (MW) of installed solar capacity in 2012 to more than 880 MW by 2017.
The Peachtree State currently supports nearly 2,600 solar-related jobs and is home to 146 companies in the solar value chain, with over 25 of those companies located within the I-285 perimeter. Sustained growth in Georgia’s solar industry will require proactive policies such as HB 874, which would remove Georgia’s legal barrier to financing tools that have helped people and companies of all income levels reap the benefits of solar energy in other states.
The #Bike4Solar event will feature a 7.5-mile bicycle ride where participants will be encouraged to decorate their bikes with pro-solar signs, post pictures on social media, and make educational stops along the route. Riders will visit four solar installations in downtown Atlanta to learn about solar policy opportunities as well as the “how to” of installing solar at home. Southface, Hannah Solar, Radiance Solar, and Inman Solar will host the tour stops.
Special Guest, Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols, will join participants at the kickoff at Southface.
The media is invited to bike with the tour beginning at 6:15pm, or simply join participants at one or more of the stops. A rough schedule is below. There will be excellent photography and filming opportunities with dozens of participants, decorated bikes, pro-solar signs and working solar panels.
WHEN: MONDAY, June 9, 6:15pm-8:30pm
WHO:
Amelia Shenstone, Southeast Energy Organizer, SACE;
Tim Echols, Georgia Public Service Commissioner;
Representatives from Southface, several solar installers, and solar advocacy groups; and
About 50 enthusiastic solar supporters on bicycles.
WHERE: See route schedule below.
6:15 Riders assemble at Southface (map)
6:30 Welcome from SACE, Remarks from Commissioner Echols, Tour of Southface panels (Southface presenting)
7:00 Tour of Georgia Tech Carbon Neutral Lab external installations (Georgia Tech Researchers and Inman Solar presenting)
7:40 Tour of Old Fourth Ward skate park panels (Hannah Solar presenting) (map)
8:10 Tour of Auburn Pointe apartments panels (Radiance Solar presenting) (approximate map)
8:35 Conclude at Republic Social House (map)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please see our Facebook Event.
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Founded in 1985, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible energy choices that create climate change solutions and ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. Learn more at www.cleanenergy.org