Education
Education

School to make electricity, and money, with flood plain

By Ty Tagami
June 1, 2016

A Georgia school plans to harness some of its land to generate renewable energy.

Darlington School, a boarding school in Rome, will break ground in July on a project that will bring a 900-kilowatt solar array to a flood plain that is not suitable for a school building.

The project, valued at over $900,000, will cost the school nothing while generating revenue because it’s paid for by Inman Solar. The company signed a 25-year lease on the parcel and will sell the energy to Georgia Power, while paying Darlington for use of the land.

Construction should take six weeks after the project start on July 5. Once operational, the array should generate enough energy to power 200 residential properties, according to the school’s estimates.

About the Author

Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.

Follow Ty Tagami on facebookFollow Ty Tagami on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Superintendent Bryan Johnson listens to a speaker during an Atlanta School Board meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. APS held its first vote on school consolidation plans. (Abbey Cutrer / AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

Atlantans speak out about plans to reshape the city’s school system

Gwinnett superintendent search marks pivotal point for school district

Gwinnett, like many Georgia school districts, is facing challenges in academic performance, school safety, retaining staff and the role of diversity, equity and inclusion.

DeKalb officials recommend keeping Druid Hills High School where it is

The tentative plan would be to tear down most of the existing school.

The Latest

Superintendent Bryan Johnson listens to a speaker during an Atlanta School Board meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. APS held its first vote on school consolidation plans. (Abbey Cutrer / AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

Atlantans speak out about plans to reshape the city’s school system

Gwinnett superintendent search marks pivotal point for school district

DeKalb officials recommend keeping Druid Hills High School where it is

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

A veteran Georgia prosecutor will decide the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies.

With some solar power tax breaks expiring, Georgians rush to catch the sun

Georgia solar installers say they’re seeing a surge of customers trying to install rooftop solar systems before federal tax credits go away at the end of the year.

‘Automatic for the People’: Weaver D’s still bonds Athens as era nears end

After feeding everyone from R.E.M. to Brian Kemp, and coining a phrase that went global, Dexter Weaver is preparing to close his storied Athens soul food restaurant.