Solar panels installed at Athens library

Released by the county government:

The Athens-Clarke County Library would like to thank its community and patrons for their patience as the library takes steps towards sustainability and renewable energy. Seven ground-mounted solar panels are being installed in the library parking lot as part of SPLOST 2020 Project 11.

As part of the project, library parking will be impacted on Friday, December 13, when a crane will be present to attach four of the panels to the poles. Items will not accrue fines from Friday to Sunday, December 13-15, and items due within that period of time will now be due on Monday, December 16.

Eight invasive trees were removed to make room for the new panels, which should be fully installed and raised sometime in mid-January. Ten trees native to Georgia will be planted in other areas on library grounds to supplement the trees that have been removed, with additional landscaping around the base of the solar panels.

Once complete, the panels will be 14 feet high, and provide additional lighting in the parking lot.

These solar panels will also increase shade in the library parking lot during the day and will actually decrease CO2 significantly more than the removed trees. These panels should supply ~12% of the library’s energy needs.

Call the library at 706-613-3650 or visit athenslibrary.org for more informatio