Bringing Direct Pay Home: Helping Georgia Communities Explore Clean Energy Funding Opportunities

By: Ashley McBride, Esq. and William D. Bryan, Ph.D.

Last week, SEEA hit the road with Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and CYR Strategies for a three-stop Direct Pay Roundtable Tour, connecting with local governments, nonprofits, and community leaders to explore one of the Inflation Reduction Act’s most powerful tools: Direct Pay.

We started in Savannah, where coastal communities—facing both energy burdens and climate risks—are eager to invest in clean energy, but need trusted guidance to navigate IRS requirements and project eligibility. Participants emphasized the need for clear pathways to compliance and trusted partners to support implementation. “This was a really well put on event. It was a great balance between a formal presentation and a casual conversation. It allowed everyone to ‘participate’ with questions and really engage,” said Joshua Corning, Clean Energy Program Manager, with the City of Savannah Office of Sustainability. In Athens-Clarke County, the roundtable highlighted the demand for ongoing convenings, a space for local governments, nonprofits, and houses of worship to come together, identify potential projects, and work collaboratively through the Direct Pay process. There was strong interest in using Direct Pay strategically to stretch existing grant dollars, especially in under-resourced areas. Participants were enthusiastic about continued engagement and regional collaboration, with SEEA playing a key convening role.

We wrapped up in Decatur, where the conversation focused on practicality and replicability. Many leaders expressed a desire for template projects—pre-vetted models with clear steps for implementation and Direct Pay eligibility. Cassie Rowlands, Founder & Principal at CYR Strategies, helped provide concrete examples and success stories in her introductory presentation on Direct Pay. One attendee noted “It was incredibly helpful to see examples of projects that have successfully completed the direct pay process along with a recommended timeline. This was the first time I have seen those concretely shared.”

Across all three cities, the message was clear: communities are motivated and ready, but they need support—from capacity building and technical guidance to sharing lessons learned. Rowlands said “Direct pay is such a game changer for these entities, making clean energy more achievable than ever. We need to make sure as many entities as possible are aware of – and taking advantage – of this mechanism and not leaving money on the table.”

Our partnership with GEFA was essential to the success of these roundtables. Their presence helped connect participants to state-level programs and funding opportunities, and their outreach ensured that trusted local voices were in the room.

SEEA remains committed to continuing this work, convening stakeholders, and breaking down barriers to federal funding across the Southeast. Direct Pay is not just a financial mechanism, it’s a catalyst for local resilience, and community-led solutions.

Let’s build on this momentum together.