b'ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTMITCHELL COUNTY HAS DEEP ROOTSSunshine BusinessI n recent years, Georgia has emerged as one of the top 10 U.S. states to embrace the use of solar energy. According to the Georgia Solar Energy Association, the solar market has contributed $947 million to communities across the state.We are increasing our tax digest, and the [solar] companies are making some improvements on the properties.- PAIGE GILCHRISTIn 2013, before solar was the hot topic it is today, Mitchell County was one of the first utility-scale producers of solar. Almost a decade later, Mitchell County has a growing number of solar projects completed and in production, including RWE Renewables Hickory Park Solar, which is expected to be completed later this year. The project marks RWE Renewables first solar facility in Georgia and the largest solar plus storage project in the U.S. to date. CONTRIBUTEDThe solar projects bring new tax dollars without infrastructure burden, says Paige Gilchrist, executive director of the Mitchell County Development Authority, We are increasing our tax digest, and the [solar] companies are makingMitchell County: Paige Gilchrist, executive director of the Mitchell some improvements on the properties.County Development Authority.56 SG MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021'