Science for Georgia

GSJ: Homegrown Solar: Georgia's Future Hope
2026-06-25 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Wild Heaven, Toco Hills, 2935B N Druid Hills Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, United States
Georgia Science Junction – Homegrown Solar: Georgia’s Future Hope
Thursday, June 25th, 7-8:30 pm
In-Person and Streaming
Check out the streaming here.
Location: Wild Heaven, Toco Hills – 2935 N Druid Hills Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329, Brite Room
Featured Speakers: Virginia Cason, Rachel Gwaltney, Dr. Bill Witherspoon
Join Sci4ga Fellows, Virginia Cason and Rachel Gwaltney, and video presenter Dr. Bill Witherspoon to learn about the future of Georgia solar!
Learn about how solar power generation works, how it is made, balcony solar, and how we can make use of rooftops and parking lots to generate power where we use it. Find out about what is going on with farmland and solar in rural GA and we will check out the resources we are working on to map what is here, planned, and possible to reach Georgia’s reliable energy future!
No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

Speaker Names: Virginia Cason, Rachel Gwaltney, Ed.S., and video presenter Dr. Bill Witherspoon

Speaker Bios:
Virginia Cason
Virginia Cason is a graduate student in Georgia Tech’s Master of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Management program. As a Science for Georgia Community Engaged Research Fellow, she brings a deep commitment to energy equity and community empowerment. Virginia believes that access to clean, affordable energy is a justice issue, and that Georgians deserve transparent, accountable decision-making from utilities like Georgia Power. Her work focuses on translating complex energy policy into tools communities can actually use to advocate for themselves and cleaner, more reliable electricity.

Rachel Gwaltney
Rachel Gwaltney, Ed.S., is an Academic Designer at McGraw Hill with a background in science education, public health, and curriculum development. She taught high school science for five years and later served as a Curriculum and Training Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Her work focuses on developing engaging, evidence-based educational resources that support both educators and student learning.

Dr. Bill Witherspoon
Dr. Bill Witherspoon (video presenter) is producer of the Rock On, Mother Earth podcast series and co-author of Roadside Geology of Georgia. Since the book appeared in 2013, Bill has presented more than 100 walks, talks, and workshops throughout the state. He completed his PhD at the University of Tennessee in 1981 with a study of the geological structure of the Great Smokies. Bill taught at UT Chattanooga, then investigated the structure of northeast Alaska and adjacent Canada in the Global Geology section of Shell Development Company. He became a business co-owner and software developer, then began 17 years as a geoscience educator at Fernbank Science Center, part of DeKalb County Schools. In 2007, the National Association of Geoscience Teachers named him Georgia Outstanding Earth Science Teacher. Since retirement in 2014, Bill has studied climate science, economics, and communication at Georgia Tech and Georgia State. His next teaching project will engage several of the experts who mentored and inspired his climate studies in “Conversations on Climate,” an 8-part series taught onsite in Tucker for the Senior University of Greater Atlanta, beginning January 17.

Georgia Science Junction
