Solar may win today at the Georgia PSC

There’s still time to call in and make your voice heard, (800) 282-5813. The swing vote is the Commissioner for south Georgia, H. Doug Everett. Solar power may win over Georgia Power today.

Greg Bluestein and Kristi E. Swartz wrote for the AJC yesterday, Solar supporters see rare loss on horizon for Georgia Power,

If Georgia Power says it needs something, it usually gets it. Over the years, state regulators have cleared the way for the utility to land new power plants, more transmission lines and rate increases, often without much heated debate.

Walter C. Jones wrote for jacksonville.com yesterday, PSC likely to require Georgia Power to double its reliance on solar power Thursday

The state’s largest electric utility is almost certain to be required Thursday to double its access to solar power when the Public Service Commission votes on Georgia Power Co.’s 20-year plan.

Late Wednesday, Stan Wise, the member of the five-man commission most resistant to requiring a specified amount of solar energy, released the wording of technical details he’ll propose on how solar generation will be added.

“I intend to offer the attached motion in the special [meeting] tomorrow. The rationale for which I will explain at that time,” he said in a one-line email to reporters with the attached motion.

He is offering an amendment to a motion Commissioner Lauren “Bubba” McDonald will make requiring Georgia Power to add about 250 megawatts of solar generation.

Wise’s announcement essentially means he’s supporting McDonald’s idea. While the other commissioners haven’t announced how they intend to vote, none have voiced Wise’s often repeated reservation.

Bubba McDonald’s editorial in Online Athens yesterday, McDonald: The path to providing clean, reliable, affordable energy

During the last week, I have received more than 500 letters from Georgians concerned about the possibility of Georgia going the way of California with the vote the Georgia Public Service Commission will make this morning.

-jsq