Brownfields are a big opportunity for the solar industry. Tiernan & Patrylo recently partnered with Hannah Solar on two roof-mount solar arrays atop their buildings in Peachtree City, Ga. The combined 755 kilowatt (kW) systems are just the latest addition to the properties, which the company recently revitalized under the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Brownfield program.
The Georgia EPD’s Brownfield program allows developers to purchase contaminated properties and remediate them with limited liability for preexisting contamination. In exchange for Tiernan & Patrylo fronting the costs of the cleanup, the state of Georgia assumes the liability for groundwater contamination and cleanup, as well as the contamination and cleanup of any surrounding properties. Once the buildings were completed, the company decided to take it a step further by adding solar panels.
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“As an engineer, I have always been interested in solar systems, both photovoltaic and passive solar collectors,” said President and CEO of Tiernan & Patrylo, John Tiernan. “The return on investment for us, given the tax credits and accelerated depreciation, made it a simple decision.”
The buildings house the new headquarters for global aerospace industry leader, Wencor Group, and Assa Abloy, the world’s largest door manufacturer. The installations combined generate an average of 1,057,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually — producing enough energy to power the equivalent of about 78 homes.
— Solar Builder magazine
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