Alpharetta-based Solar Energy USA installed a 20kW photovoltaic system - or about 91 solar modules. The installation team, a staff of technical experts, is lead by one of the most respected names in the photovoltaic industry with head crew member being NABCEP certified.

The Federal Clean Energy Grant (also known as the 1603 Treasury Grant Program) was extended last year as part of the tax legislation passed by the U.S. Congress. Thanks to this Grant, it is now much easier financially for companies to go solar. Take for example the recent 20kW installation in Dawsonville, GA that was provided by Solar Energy USA.

In combination with the 30 percent Federal Clean Energy Grant, and, on the state level, a 35 percent tax credit that is given to businesses and homeowners - the Georgia Clean Energy Tax Credit - the timing to go solar couldn't be better.

There's also various incentives from local utility providers including a $3,000 Sawnee EMC incentive to install solar panels.

Through a process called "net metering" the utility will purchase any excess solar energy a home or business produces, sometimes even at a premium rate.

For a business, the payback period or amount of time before the system pays for itself, is five years. For a homeowner, the payback period is about ten years.

To date, the 20kW system has produced 5.05MW of clean, renewable solar energy. That is equivalent to powering 15,303 light bulbs or 5,050 computers for 1 day. The corresponding carbon offset is 8,659.2956 lbs of CO2, the equivalent of planting 102 trees or offsetting 446 gallons of gasoline.

Over it's expected life the 20kW system will generate approximately 1015MW of clean, renewable energy, equivalent to offsetting 868 tons of CO2, planting 20,712 trees, or offsetting 27,740 gallons of gasoline. The local GA business where the solar array is installed will see utility savings on average of $614 dollars every month.