April 17, 2020 – Last year, Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols finished a year-long project to add a solar array to the Hog Hammock Public Library on Sapelo Island.
During the unveiling ceremony, Commissioner Echols realized that Hog Hammock native son Allen Bailey, an NFL player, was honored with a sign saying he played for the Kansas City Chiefs. Well, since 2019, Bailey has come home to Georgia to play for the Atlanta Falcons.
On Thursday, Commissioner Echols dropped off a new sign at the Sapelo Island Visitors Center. It was donated by the Atlanta Falcons.
“Home of Allen Bailey – Atlanta Falcons,” the sign reads, with an Atlanta Falcons logo.
“The Hog Hammock community is a forgotten gem in our state,” said Echols. “Recognizing Allen Bailey’s remarkable achievement is the right thing to do. I thank the Atlanta Falcons for their partnership.”
Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay said the Falcons organization was glad to help.
“We’d like to thank the Hog Hammock community for their support of the Falcons and Georgia’s NFL team,” McKay said. “We’re proud to call Allen Bailey a Falcon and glad to have him representing his home state.”
Hog Hammock is a Gullah-Geechee community of about 40 permanent residents who trace their island ancestry back to the plantations of the late 1700’s.
After visiting the island, Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols challenged the Georgia Large Scale Solar Association to head a project that would add solar power to the Hog Hammock Public Library. Association Chairman Ryan Sanders and his team jumped to work and completed the project in August 2019.
Solar panels were donated by Southern Current LLC. Yellawood donated materials for a pavilion. EDF Renewables donated the construction costs.
The Department of Natural Resources donated ferry time to bring materials to the island. DS Smith provided services to clear dilapidated trees.
The University of Georgia is providing students to landscape. Georgia Power will adjust the meter to allow for solar and will pay the library for any excess solar generation. Darien Telephone donated picnic tables. Island residents assisted with site preparation and assembly of picnic tables and playground equipment.