Sol Systems, a national independent power producer (IPP) and leading U.S. renewable energy developer, announced today a new partnership with Gas South and Cobb Electric Membership Corporation (Cobb EMC) to fund a hands-on, renewable-energy-focused STEM education program for teachers and students in Georgia's Cherokee County School District (CCSD).

This latest collaboration marks the second phase of a community impact initiative between Sol Systems and Gas South that ties corporate clean-energy investments to local educational benefits. The partnership will provide an investment from Sol Systems, Gas South and the Cobb EMC Foundation to expand the reach of the KidWind program – an award-winning national STEM education model that helps teachers bring renewable energy lessons to life in classrooms across the country.

"When companies like Sol Systems, Gas South and Cobb EMC invest in local education, they help create real pathways to opportunity," said Adaora Ifebigh, Senior Director of Community Impact at Sol Systems. "By pairing clean-energy investments with hands-on learning, we're preparing a new generation of students to become problem solvers who can lead Georgia's energy future."

"This partnership is a great example of how energy procurement businesses can deliver benefits that go beyond clean power," said Carley Stephens, Director of Corporate Giving at Gas South. "Together, we're helping schools spark curiosity, inspire innovation and build stronger communities."

"KidWind empowers teachers to make renewable energy tangible for students," said Mike Arquin, Founder and Executive Director of KidWind. "Support from Sol Systems, Gas South, and Cobb EMC enables us to reach even more classrooms and give students the tools to explore and innovate."

"Our district is excited to expand this opportunity to Cherokee County educators," said Erin Jacobs, Director of Accountability & Assessment at Cherokee County School District. "The enthusiasm from our teachers and students shows just how relevant and inspiring energy education can be through authentic, standards-based and real-world learning opportunities."

Through this investment, CCSD will train educators, develop renewable-energy learning tools, and support schools with STEM certification, equipping students with the skills to thrive in Georgia's growing clean-energy economy. The program will provide instructional resources that support STEM and Science standards related to critical thinking in context as students engage in investigations and propose innovative solutions. The partnership builds on the success of the 2023-2024 pilot with Gwinnett County Public Schools, which engaged over 45 teachers from 17 schools in the professional learning program, providing the opportunity to educate over 30,000 Georgia students on STEM and renewable energy. Participating teachers reported increased student engagement and enthusiasm for renewable energy topics. Based on teacher feedback, Cherokee County educators helped co-design this year's program, underscoring its grassroots, community-driven nature.

The Sol Systems-Gas South collaboration demonstrates a growing model for "energy with impact" – where large-scale energy partnerships deliver both decarbonization and community benefit. The two companies' investments in solar projects nationwide are paired with targeted local funding that supports education, workforce development, and equitable access to clean energy.