The installation includes a 1.243 MW carport solar array paired with a 1.043 MW / 2.087 MWh Tesla battery system and is expected to generate more than 2,000 MWh of clean electricity annually. This will offset approximately 55% of the County Jail’s annual energy use and reduce carbon emissions by around 1,000 metric tons per year.  

The project is the result of a long-term partnership between the County of Monterey and Mynt Systems, Inc., a Santa Cruz–based renewable energy development, engineering, and construction company. Mynt Systems partnered with Sunrock Distributed Generation to co-develop the system and provide financing through a PPA. 

“The completion of this renewable energy project is a major achievement for the County of Monterey to lead the transition to a more sustainable future. Thanks to the Power Purchase Agreement, the Sheriff’s Office is expected to save over $12 million without spending funds on capital costs,” says Cora Panturad, Sustainability Program Manager for the County of Monterey. 

The installation received Permission to Operate in December 2025 following a multi-year development process that navigated major shifts in federal energy policy, including changes to investment tax credit eligibility, domestic content requirements, and foreign entity of concern rules, as well as rapidly evolving building codes and safety standards for battery energy storage systems. 

In January 2025, a fire involving nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries at the nearby Moss Landing energy storage facility heightened industry and public scrutiny of battery safety. In response, the system at the County Jail was designed using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology, which is widely recognized for its lower risk of thermal runaway compared to other battery types. Project partners worked closely with the County of Monterey’s Health and Safety Division and Emergency Preparedness teams to ensure a conservative, safety-first approach appropriate for a correctional facility. 

“Bringing this project online shows what’s possible when strong public partners work with experienced developers and long-term capital,” says Rob Hymes, Chief Development Officer at Mynt Systems. “This system was designed with safety at its core and is projected to deliver millions of dollars in savings that can be reinvested into sustainability and community resilience.” 

“The successful completion of this project demonstrates how disciplined project finance can deliver sustainable infrastructure certainty even amid major policy change,” says Wilson Chang, CEO and Co-Founder of Sunrock Distributed Generation. “We are proud to have worked with the Mynt team and our partners to co-develop and build a bankable solar-plus-storage asset that provides the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office with energy savings, predictable costs, enhanced resilience, and a safety-first storage solution.”  

About Mynt Systems Inc.  

Mynt Systems provides optimized solutions for generating, storing, and managing clean energy for industrial and institutional customers. The company prioritizes transparency, disciplined execution, and client-aligned outcomes throughout development and implementation. Mynt is redefining how onsite generation and energy storage are designed and delivered for mid-market Commercial-Industrial. For more information, visit www.myntsystems.com.  

About Sunrock Distributed Generation  

Sunrock Distributed Generation (SDG) is a leading financing platform for commercial solar and energy storage, expanding access to clean energy for projects historically underserved by traditional capital markets. SDG delivers standardized, technology-enabled financing solutions that accelerate deployment of cost-effective, resilient energy infrastructure. For more information, visit www.sunrockdg.com. 

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation (Sawnee) announced today that it has been ranked highest in customer satisfaction among electric cooperatives in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. The study is based on J.D. Power’s research throughout the entire nation and awards Sawnee EMC with the highest customer satisfaction standards among electric cooperatives. Additionally, Sawnee EMC was ranked #1 in dimension of performance in the areas of “Safety and Reliability”, “Problem Resolution”, “Ease”, “People”, “Trust” and “Information Provided”.

“This is a great honor to all of us who call Sawnee EMC home; for the dedicated people who come to work each day with a common goal in mind – serving the 180,000 members who have entrusted us to meet their energy needs and serve their communities reliably and affordably,” states Michael A. Goodroe, President and CEO of Sawnee. “This speaks volumes about the commitment of our Board of Directors and staff to always put our members needs first,” he adds.

This is not the first time that Sawnee EMC has been recognized nationally by J.D. Power. The member-owned electric cooperative, headquartered in Cumming, was honored by J.D. Power five (5) other times – in 2013 for Customer Satisfaction among Midsize Utilities in the South and was ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction among electric cooperatives in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024. Sawnee has been best in class for three out the last four years.

“We are so excited to win this prestigious award; to be recognized nationally is great, but the fact that our members appreciate how we serve them, and how we operate on a daily basis as their trusted energy provider makes it all worthwhile,” states Blake House, Vice President of Member Services. Mr. House adds, “Yes, we supply electricity, but we do so much more than just that. We want our members to see tangible value in the services we provide. Pleasing the member is ingrained in everything we do, and we are proud that this honor is based upon the direct feedback from our members.”

For more information about Sawnee’s products and services visit www.sawnee.coop, or email customerservice@sawnee.co

About Sawnee EMC

awnee Electric Membership Corporation, a five-time J.D. Power recipient for best in customer satisfaction, is an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to approximately 203,540 accounts in seven (7) counties of greater north Georgia. Sawnee’s total assets exceed $1 billion, with energy sales of 3.7 billion kWh and annual revenue of approximately $450 million. With a team of approximately 400 dedicated professionals and over 12,542 miles of distribution line, Sawnee stands ready at all times to meet the needs of its members-owners. Sawnee EMC strives daily to live up to their motto…

To apply, visit the DNR Career Academy website. 

Dates and Location 

July 19-25, 2026

Students will stay overnight at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center located in Mansfield, Ga., and the Jekyll 4-H Center on Jekyll Island.

Application Process

Current sophomores and juniors who are Georgia residents are invited to apply to participate in the Georgia DNR Career Academy. This unique opportunity will expose the selected applicants to the wide variety of careers available within the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 

• Online application period will open Oct. 15, 2025 and close Nov. 17, 2025.
• Parent/guardian will complete the Guardian Permission form and upload it in the application portal.
• Supply one letter of recommendation from a school counselor, teacher, principal, or club advisor. This should be someone who can tell us about you. 
• Select students will be invited to participate in an online interview with DNR employees in early December 2025. 

Contact Us 

Email: careeracademy@dnr.ga.gov

“The Sawnee Electric Foundation is dedicated to making a positive impact within the communities that Sawnee EMC serves,” said Michael Goodroe, Sawnee EMC President and CEO. “These funds will help ensure that our local food banks have the resources they need to provide healthy meals and essential support for those facing challenging times, especially as we approach the holiday season.”

The organizations who have received recent funding are:

• Dawson Community Food Bank
• Georgia Mountain Food Bank
• The Place of Forsyth
• There’s Hope for the Hungry
• Unseen Hand Ministries
• MUST Ministries
• Senior Services North Fulton
• Ministries of Grace

The funds being utilized for this program and many other Sawnee Foundation charitable grants come from the Operation Round Up Program and not from current rate payer funds received from Sawnee EMC energy bills and will be distributed to several area food banks serving thousands of individuals and families. These organizations play a critical role in addressing hunger and providing hope across the region.

“There are partners, and then there are partners! The Sawnee Electric Foundation is a true community partner with a sensitivity to what is truly going on in the community,” states Suellen Daniels, Executive Director of Ministries of Grace. “The recent gift we received is a perfect example of this. Every family in need in our local community will benefit from this gift.”

Since its inception, the Sawnee Electric Foundation has contributed over $5.2 million to local charities, schools, and community organizations. The Foundation remains committed to its mission of giving back and fostering a stronger community for all.

For more information about the Sawnee Electric Foundation and its charitable efforts, please visit sawnee.coop/foundation-round-up.

Three beautiful parks on Lake Lanier are opening back up just in time for summer fun—and Forsyth County is stepping in to help. These parks are Keith Bridge Park, Long Hollow Park and Two-Mile Creek Park. They are owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which had to close them earlier this year in May. But thanks to teamwork between local and national leaders, families can now visit them again.

Why Were the Parks Closed?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes care of several parks along Lake Lanier. They help keep them safe, clean and ready for visitors. But earlier this year, they didn’t have enough people or money to keep all the parks open. That’s why Keith Bridge, Long Hollow and Two-Mile Creek were closed for a while.

What’s Happening Now?

Forsyth County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers came up with a plan. They agreed to work together to reopen the three parks under something called a “Challenge Cost Share Cooperative Management Agreement.” That’s a fancy way of saying both sides will share the work and cost to keep the parks open and running smoothly.

This agreement will last for one year. During this time, Forsyth County will help manage the parks and make sure they stay safe for everyone. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office will even have officers there to help out, just like park rangers do.

Assistant County Manager Tony Tarnacki shared his thoughts, saying, “We’re happy Forsyth County can help reopen these lake parks. It took a lot of people working together—from county, state and federal groups—to make this happen. It’s a great example of teamwork.”

What Parks Are Open Now?

Here’s a list of all the parks on Lake Lanier that Forsyth County runs. These parks are open and ready for you to enjoy:

• Charleston Park
• Mary Alice Park
• Six Mile Creek Park
• Young Deer Creek Park
• Bald Ridge Campground (you need a reservation for overnight stays)
• Sawnee Campground (reservation required)
• Shady Grove Campground (reservation required)

And here are the parks in Forsyth County that are owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

• Tidwell Park
• Little Ridge Park
• Two-Mile Creek Park
• Vanns Tavern Park
• Keith Bridge Park
• Long Hollow Park
• West Bank Park

Note: Now that Forsyth County is helping, Keith Bridge, Long Hollow and Two-Mile Creek are back open again.

Why This Is Good (Pros)

• Families Get to Enjoy the Parks Again: People love to go fishing, hiking, boating, or just relaxing near the water. With these parks open again, there are more places to have fun outside.
• Teamwork Helped Solve the Problem: The reopening shows how city, state and national groups can work together to help the community.
• Extra Safety and Support: With the Sheriff’s Office helping out at the parks, people can feel safer while they’re enjoying nature.
• Good Use of Local Resources: By sharing work and costs, the County and USACE can keep the parks open without stretching their budgets too thin.

What Might Be Difficult (Cons)

• Temporary Agreement: The agreement only lasts one year for now. If a new plan isn’t made after that, the parks could close again.
• County Staff Have More to Do: Taking care of more parks means more work for Forsyth County employees, which could lead to extra costs or staffing needs.
• Not All Parks Are Day-Use Friendly: Some parks, like campgrounds, need reservations, so they’re not as easy for last-minute trips.
• Shared Responsibility Can Get Complicated: When two groups share park duties, there might be confusion about who handles what if problems come up.

Why It Matters

Parks are important places for people to play, relax and spend time with family. They give kids space to run around, help grownups unwind, and offer everyone a break from screens and busy days. By reopening these three parks, Forsyth County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are showing that they care about keeping the community connected to nature.

Whether you want to go boating with your parents, fish off the shore with your grandpa, or have a picnic with friends, these parks are perfect places to enjoy a sunny day.So grab your water bottle, pack some snacks and plan a visit—your favorite lakeside park might be open again, thanks to a little teamwork.

Where Do I Go to Vote?

On July 15, everyone who can vote in Forsyth County will go to ONE place:

 Cumming Recreation & Parks Department Event Center
437 Pilgrim Mill Road, Cumming, GA

The place will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This is just for this special election. In November, you’ll go back to your regular voting spot!

Why Only One Place?

Not many people in Forsyth County voted in the last election for this seat (less than 1%), so the county is using a rule that says they can open just one polling place.
(This rule comes from Georgia law O.C.G.A. 21-2-270.)

What Do I Bring?

To vote in person, you need to bring a photo ID. That means one of six acceptable forms of identification, like a driver’s license.

Learn more at: www.forsythco.com/vote or call (770) 781-2118.

Can I Vote in This Election?

It depends! You must have already registered to vote by May 19, 2025, and:

You CAN vote if:

• You voted using a Democratic ballot on June 17
• OR you did not vote at all on June 17

You CANNOT vote if:

• You voted using a Republican ballot on June 17

Voting by Mail?

If you asked for an absentee ballot to vote by mail, it must arrive by 7 p.m. on July 15 to be counted.

 The postmark date (when it was mailed) does NOT count.

Pros and Cons of This Voting Plan:

Pros:

• Easy to remember: Only one place to vote!Longer hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.Helps save money and time since few people are voting

Cons 

Some voters may have to drive farther than usual

• Can be confusing because it’s different from regular electionsOnly certain voters are allowed to vote

• Maintenance & Operations (M&O) – This helps run the county.
• Fire Department – Helps pay for firefighters and fire trucks.
• Bond – This helps pay back money the county borrowed for big projects.

Even though the total rate isn’t changing, some parts are going up or down a little.

What’s Changing?

• The M&O rate stays the same: 4.791
• The Fire rate goes up: from 2.505 to 2.805
• The Bond rate goes down: from 0.600 to 0.300
• Total rate stays the same: 7.896

The county’s budget for next year is still being worked on, and this tax money will help fund it.

Why Are Taxes Going Up for Some People?

Because more people are building homes or fixing up their houses, the county has more property to tax. Even though the rate isn’t going up, the value of many homes is going up, so some people might pay more.

• Forsyth County’s total property value went up 9.54%.
  • 3.46% is from new homes or buildings.
  • 6.08% is from older homes being worth more now.

If your home didn’t go up in value or you have a homestead exemption, you might not see a higher bill—or your bill could even go down for some parts.

You can read more about your taxes here: www.forsythco.com/property-taxes

What is a Public Hearing?

It’s a meeting where anyone can speak up or ask questions. The county must hold three public hearings because the tax rate is more than what Georgia law calls the “rollback” rate (the rate that would keep tax money the same even if property values changed).

When Are the Hearings?

You can go to any of these:

• July 22, 2025 at 5 p.m.
• August 7, 2025 at 11 a.m.
• August 7, 2025 at 6 p.m.

All meetings are at:
Forsyth County Administration Building
110 E. Main Street, Suite 220, Cumming, GA

The final vote on the tax rate will happen:
August 7, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

Pros and Cons of This Plan:

Pros:

• No total tax rate increase – The overall number stays the same.
• Some people won’t see a higher bill, especially those with homestead exemptions.
• Fire Department gets more funding – Good for safety!
• Bond rate goes down – County is paying off some debt.

Cons:

• Some homeowners may pay more if their home value went up a lot.
• Fire rate increase means part of the tax bill is going up, even if the total rate is steady.
• Public hearings might be hard for everyone to attend due to timing.

Remember: Your exact tax bill depends on your home’s value and any exemptions you have. Everyone is welcome to attend the public hearings and ask questions or share their thoughts.

Click here to learn more about your property taxes

Something important is happening in Georgia! Senator Harold Jones II, who lives in Augusta, has been picked by Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones to lead a special team. This team will work on finding ways to help people who take care of family members at home—like moms, dads, grandparents, or even kids who are sick or hurt.

Senator Jones said, “Thank you to Lt. Governor Burt Jones for choosing me to be in charge of this group. This is a really big deal for families all over Georgia. Every day, someone brings a loved one home from the hospital and suddenly becomes a caregiver. But many people don’t have the tools or training to help. We want to find better ways to support those families so they can take care of their loved ones safely and with less stress.”

What Is a Caregiver?

A caregiver is someone who helps take care of a family member who can’t take care of themselves. That might mean helping them eat, get dressed, take medicine, or go to doctor’s appointments.

Caregivers are super important—but it can also be really hard work, especially if you don’t know what to do.

What Will the Committee Do?

This special team is called the Senate Study Committee on Improving Family Caregiver Services. Their job is to:

• Learn about the problems caregivers are facing
• Talk to families across Georgia
• Find ways the government can make things better
• Suggest new rules or laws to help caregivers

Other senators on the team are:

• Senator Chuck Hufstetler from Rome
• Senator Larry Walker III from Perry
• Senator Ben Watson from Savannah
• Senator Kenya Wicks from Fayette

Pros and Cons of the Committee’s Work

Pros (Good Things)

• More Help for Families: The team could find smart ways to make life easier for people who care for loved ones at home.
• Better Safety: Families might learn how to take care of someone the right way so no one gets hurt.
• Listening to Real People: The committee wants to hear from Georgia families, which means real stories can help shape real solutions.
• New Ideas for Laws: The team could suggest new rules that give caregivers more support, training or even money to help.
• Teamwork Across Georgia: Senators from different parts of the state are working together to make a difference.
• Cons (Things to Think About)
• Takes Time: The committee will need time to study, listen, and come up with good ideas. That means change won’t happen right away.
• Not All Ideas May Be Used: Even if the committee finds good solutions, some ideas might not turn into laws.
• Some People May Be Left Out: It’s important that the committee hears from all kinds of families, or they might miss important voices.
• Cost: Helping caregivers may take money, and the government has to decide how much it can spend.

Who Is Senator Harold Jones?

Senator Harold V. Jones II is the leader of the Democratic group in the Georgia Senate. He works for the people who live in Richmond County, which includes Augusta.

• Chattahoochee
• Macon
• Marion
• Schley
• Talbot
• Taylor
• And part of Muscogee County

Final Thoughts

This visit to the Georgia State Capitol was more than just a field trip. It was a way for future leaders from many different places to learn how government works and how they can make their own communities better.Senator Harbison said it best: When we help teach good values like peace and respect, we help build a better world. And Georgia is proud to be part of that mission.

If you want to learn more about WHINSEC, you can visit their website and see how they help people grow into strong, caring leaders.

He will still need to be officially voted in by all the senators in January 2026, but this is a big first step.

“I’m really thankful my teammates believe in me,” said Senator Walker. “We all want the Senate to be fair, work well, and help the people of Georgia. If I’m officially chosen in January, I’ll use everything I’ve learned to do my best.”

What Does President Pro Tempore Mean?

That’s a big title, but here’s what it means:

If the Lieutenant Governor (who usually runs the Senate meetings) isn’t there, Senator Walker would be in charge of the meeting. He would also work with other leaders to help the Senate stay organized and make sure everyone knows what’s going on.

Who Is Senator Walker?

Senator Larry Walker is already in charge of the Insurance and Labor Committee in the Senate. He helps take care of important decisions about jobs and insurance in Georgia.

He represents people in these counties:

• Bleckley
• Dodge
• Dooly
• Laurens
• Treutlen
• Pulaski
• Wilcox
• Part of Houston County