DeKalb County Moves Forward With Floating Solar Panels

Floating solar panels, like the ones pictured here at Far Niente winery in Oakville, California, may soon be coming to Dekalb County.

Eric Risberg / Associated Press

Floating solar panels could be headed to DeKalb County soon, and they do, in fact, float. They are designed to take advantage of the open space on top of a body of water. DeKalb is hoping to add some to a reservoir at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant in Doraville.

A private company will pay DeKalb for the leasing rights to install, maintain and remove the panels, and sell the electricity to Georgia Power. The project is part of Georgia Power’s Renewable Energy Development Initiative.

Richard Lemke, director of DeKalb Public Works Department, said there are other benefits as well.