GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY APRIL 2016 VOLUME XXII TABLE OF CONTENTS Chatsworth Water Works 1 Commission Installs Solar Panels Twenty-one New Electric 2 Vehicle Charging Stations Infrastructure Projects Receive 2 GEFA Financing Employee Updates; Staff Receive 3 Faithful Service Awards GEFA Around Georgia 3 CHATSWORTH WATER WORKS COMMISSION INSTALLS SOLAR PANELS Many businesses, organizations and government agencies across Georgia are considering solar power because it is clean, renewable energy that benefits the environment and reduces energy costs. The Chatsworth Water Works Commission (CWWC) is committed to providing the best water and wastewater services at the lowest possible rates for its customers. Between the CWWC's main office and the Judson Vick Wastewater Treatment Plant, was a 5-acre, untouched, overgrown field. The CWWC decided that using the field for solar power would be an efficient way of serving its customers. Given its hours of operation coincide with the peak hours for solar power generation and the potential for long-term savings, the CWWC decided to turn the empty field into a 5-acre array of solar panels. The CWWC received a Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) loan of $3 million at 1.03 percent interest and $300,000 in principal forgiveness to finance a 1 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic farm. Since the project conserved energy, CWCC also received a 1 percent interest rate reduction (reduced from the standard rate of 2.03 percent). This was the first solar project associated with a water or wastewater treatment plant financed by GEFA in the state. Once ground broke on the project, it only took six weeks for the solar panels to start producing power. The solar array is capable of generating up 1 MW hour of electricity a day, enough to run the utility's main office and the wastewater treatment plant. The solar panels produce more electricity than the utility needs and the surplus is sold to Georgia Power. The projected total savings over the next 25 years are approximately $5.5 to $6 million. The solar project has benefitted the CWWC's operations, and set an example for other water and sewer utilities to follow. With a little help from the sun, utilities can better manage rising energy costs to keep rates as low as possible for their customers. WWW.GEFA.ORG GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY APRIL 2016 VOLUME XXII 2 TWENTY-ONE NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS RECEIVE GEFA FINANCING Charge Georgia was designed to increase the availability of public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The first phase of the program awarded rebates totaling $278,386 to install 40 alternating current (AC) Level II and four direct current quick charging (DCQC) stations by July 31, 2015. By April 30, 2016, 21 additional EV charging stations will be installed as a result of phase two of the Charge Georgia program. Eight organizations were awarded rebates totaling $93,518 to install the new alternating current (AC) Level II charging stations. With the issuance of the phase two rebates, the federal funds used to support this program will be fully allocated. The following organizations were approved for phase two rebates (number of stations to be installed in parenthesis): Atlanta Metropolitan State College (1) City of Acworth (1) City of College Park (4) Cobb County (6) DeKalb County (1) Fayette County (2) Georgia Gwinnett College (3) Georgia State University (3) Charge Georgia provided colleges, universities and technical colleges; state agencies and authorities; and cities and counties with a rebate to install AC Level II and DCQC electric vehicle charging stations at its campuses and facilities. The maximum rebate amount per organization is $40,000, with colleges and universities with multiple campuses allowed a maximum rebate of $40,000 per campus. For more information on existing public charging infrastructure in Georgia, please click here. The GEFA board of directors and executive committee awarded six Georgia communities financing totaling more than $14 million for water, sewer, wastewater and land conservation infrastructure improvements during its recent meetings in January and March. Some of the projects financed include: Effingham County was awarded a $2.5 million Georgia Fund loan that will finance the extension of approximately 8,000 linear feet (LF) of 16-inch water main, approximately 5,000 LF of 16-inch forcemain, approximately 14,000 LF of 12-inch reuse water main, and asewer pumping station to serve a proposed residential development and future development. Effingham County will pay 3.03 percent interest on the 20-year loan. Jones County was awarded a $1.45 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan to finance the construction of a filtration system and the installation of two backup generators. This project will remove high iron levels from the deep well, provide backup power and rehabilitate a current pump station. Jones County will pay 1.53 percent on the 20-year loan, which includes a principal forgiveness of $500,000, if all funds are drawn. The county is a PlanFirst designated community through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, which qualifies it for a reduced interest rate. The city of Gray was awarded a $810,135 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan to replace approximately 1,825 water meters throughout the city with an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. This project will help reduce water meter inaccuracies estimated between 10-25 percent and reduce the labor and expense associated with manual meter readings. Gray will pay1.03 percent interest on the 20-year loan, which includes a principal forgiveness up to $324,054, if all funds are drawn. The loan qualified for a reduced interest rate as an eligible water conservation project. GEFA provides loans through state and federal programs to finance water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure, and water pollution control and conservation projects. For more information, visit www.gefa.org. WWW.GEFA.ORG GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY APRIL 2016 VOLUME XXII 3 EMPLOYEE UPDATES; STAFF RECEIVE FAITHFUL SERVICE AWARDS GEFA Employee Updates: Charlette Brown joined the Fiscal Services Division as a compliance auditor. She began her career in auditing and attestation with the Orange County Public School System in Orlando, Fla. In late 2007, her family relocated to Atlanta and Charlette accepted the position of internal auditor IV with the Fulton County School System. Charlette graduated from the University of Phoenix with a bachelor's degree in business accounting and went on to receive her master's degree in public administration with an emphasis on government management from DeVry University (Keller Graduate School of Management). Mandy DeVore, a native of Athens, Ga., is now part of the Public Affairs Division as the public relations manager. Mandy comes to GEFA from the Georgia Secretary of State office where she was the outreach manager for the agency. By traveling the state, she designed and implemented programs to educate the general public on vital agency duties. In 2009, Mandy graduated from the University of Mississippi where she received her bachelor's degree in education and went on to receive her master's degree in education with an emphasis on curriculum and instruction. GEFA welcomes Susan Lucki as the authority's senior executive assistant. She brings more than 15 years of office administrative experience including accounting, event planning, process improvements, as well as coordinating administrative needs. Susan's career path has taken her through several industries over the years but she's always been customer service driven and team oriented. Susan graduated from Valdosta State University with a degree in administrative services. Linda MacGregor, formerly GEFA's Water Resources Division director, recently became the water resources director for the city of Gainesville. Linda had been with GEFA for almost three years. During her time with GEFA she also served as a senior program manager where she coordinated a range of water resource projects and assisted with implementing the Governor's Water Supply Program. Faithful Service Awards: The following staff received 2015 Faithful Service Awards for their dedication to serving the citizens of Georgia. 5 years Kristofor Anderson 10 years Jenerrah Byron, Linda MacGregor, Amanda Carroll, and Princeley Dorfeuille 15 years Ray Hunter 20 years Chris Jones, Jan Russell 25 years Valerie Zackery . GEFA AROUND GEORGIA GEFA will be at several conferences throughout 2016. Stop by and visit if you'll be at one of the events listed below. Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Annual Conference: Savannah International Trade & Convention Center - Friday, April 29 Monday, May 2 Georgia Rural Water Association (GRWA) Annual Conference: The Jekyll Island Convention Center Tuesday, May 10 Thursday, May 12 Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Annual Convention: Savannah International Trade & Convention Center Friday, June 24 Tuesday, June 28 Georgia Environmental Conference: The Jekyll Island Convention Center - Wednesday, August 24 Friday, August 26 Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) Conference: The Hyatt Regency Savannah Wednesday, September 21 Friday, September 23 Georgia Government Finance Officers Association (GGFOA) Annual Meeting: The Jekyll Island Convention Center Sunday, October 2 Wednesday, October 5 Georgia Rural Water Association (GRWA) Fall Conference: Unicoi State Park and Lodge - Monday, October 24 Wednesday, October 26 Georgia Association of Regional Commissions (GARC) Conference: St. Simons Island - November, Dates TBD Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) Fall Conference: Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, - Tuesday, November 15 Wednesday, November 16 Biennial Legislators' Conference: UGA Hotel and Conference Center - December, Dates TBD 233 Peachtree Street NE Harris Tower, Suite 900 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 404-584-1000 (Main) 404-584-1069 (Fax) www.gefa.org If you wish to add or remove yourself from this newsletter distribution, please email publicaffairs@gefa.ga.gov WWW.GEFA.ORG