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TESTIMONY OF BRION FITZPATRICK VICE CHAIRMAN GEORGIA SOLAR ENERGY ASSOCIATION 1199 Euclid Ave., NE

Atlanta, GA 30307 404-522-4775
My name is Brion Fitzpatrick. I am here to represent the Georgia Solar Energy Association, which Iwill refer to as Georgia Solar. Iamvice chairman ofGA Solar. Ialso workas the DirectorofBusiness Developmentfor Inman Solar, a Georgia-based solar project development and installation company, a position I have held for 6 years. Georgia has madegreatstrides overthepasttwoyears in the development ofits solar resources. In 2012, the state had less than 20 megawatts of solar energy in production. Today, Georgia is producing more than 100 megawatts ofsolarenergy, a numberthatis growing everyday. With the visionary encouragement of the Georgia Public Service Commission and Georgia Power's Advanced Solar Initiative (AS!) in cooperation with Georgia's solar industryprofessionals,this rapid deployment ofsolarenergyinfrastructure hasbeen possible without anyupward pressure on rates. The bestnews ofall is that Georgia's vast potential for solar energy production, rated among the nation's best by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, remains largely untapped. Hundreds offirms throughout the state are engaged in this solar energymarket. And that number doesn't count the many other professionals whose skills are important to successful solar development. These professionals are creating long-term investmentand improving productivitythroughoutthe state. Since the inception ofthe Georgia Power AS!, the largestvoluntary solar program in the nation, Georgia is on trackto add 735 megawatts ofsolargeneration within a 36- month period. Since it was approved in November 2012 and launched in 2013, the Georgia Power AS! has prompted a significant increase in the number of solarjobs and firms involved in this market sector. Most ofthose professionals belong to ourorganization 'GA Solar', which strives to educate Georgia's homeowners, policymakers and the business community on the many benefits ofsolar energy. Our success is increasinglyapparentas oursolarportfolio grows.Although mostsolar installations have previously been located in Georgia's more urban areas - like Atlanta, Savannah, Macon, and Augusta

- the Georgia Power AS! is now building significant economic potential in the state's more rural areas, which have been hungry for the kind oflocal investment and thejobs solar projects create. This year, the AS! program received more than 1,200 applications from which fewer than 200 projects were selected. Maps produced by local solar energy engineers show many available sites for large-scale solar development throughout the state. We also are seeing an uptick in solar energy projects and resources for Georgia's 41 Electric Membership Cooperatives, and the 49 Municipal Electric Authorities of Georgia, which serve the state's rural communities. Georgia is home to many solar companies, most of them locally established, that manufacture solar equipment; design, locate and develop projects; install and maintain solar generation sites, and invest in innovative solar research and development. We are prepared to meet the demands of a changing energy portfolio with an experienced, trained and ready workforce. Whatever opportunities occur in our marketfor increased renewable energy resources, we have the skills, the people and the supplychain in place to meetit. At Georgia Solar, we know and are working hard to help the public understand that solar energy is not a partisan issue. Constantly improving technology and dramatically declining prices in the elements ofsolar infrastructure have combined to make solar energy a viable, cost-effective resource at every economic level. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the price of solar panels has fallen 60 percentin thelastthree years. Solar's cost-competitiveness with traditional generating resources was officially recognized by Georgia Power and the Georgia Public Service Commission in their 2013 Integrated Resource Planning process. From 50-megawatt solar farms to residential rooftop installations, solar energy is becoming a practical part of Georgia's energy portfolio. Solar energy can offer the state's homeowners savings on their utility bills; give business owners more budget flexibility with lower energy costs; improve our domestic energy security, and ease expensive peak demand on our energy grid. By improving policies at the state level that reflect current market practices and the benefits solar energy contributes to the grid, even more savings and productivity can be achieved. Accordingto a studybythe SolarFoundation, Georgia experiencedthehighestgrowth rate in the nation for solarjobs between 2012 and 2013, an astonishing 225 percent. This shows how quickly we can deploy our solar industry to meet the state's needs for a diverse energy portfolio. Solar energycan help the state deploy new renewable

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energyresources cost-effectively while improving Georgia's economic assets with no upward pressure on utilityrates. Increasing solar energy also offers Georgia the added benefit of reducing water demand for energy production, a significant and growing concern for our state leaders. Georgia has been in negotiations with its neighboring states for more than two decades over water withdrawals from our shared surface water resources. Roughly halfofthose withdrawals go to produce electricity. By shifting some ofthe energy load to solar PV, which uses no water to generate, we can ease that demand without sacrificing our economic growth potential. I will leave it to the EPA and other policymakers to determine the right goals for Georgia in this dialogue overairqualityandenergyproduction. But onbehalfofmore than 1,000 solar energy professionals who live and work in Georgia, I am here to reassureyou that Georgia is readyto deployits solarenergy resources. Solar energy is:

• Clean • Carefully regulated • Cost-effective • Quickly deployed • Aproven resource Thank you for this opportunity to speak to the benefits of solar energy on behalfof The Georgia Solar Energy Association, and the professionals and consumers who standto benefitfrom solar in our state.