Category Archives: LCC solar

Georgia Energy Trust Fund —Dr. Sidney Smith 2012 02 17



After the

ribbon cutting for a new solar installation in Bryan County,
Dr. Sidney Smith talked about

a distributed commodity market in solar power,
plus

large private investment utility-scale solar plants,
and then he told LAKE about
the

Georgia Energy Trust Fund.

Here’s

the video:




Georgia Energy Trust Fund —Dr. Sidney Smith 2012 02 17

South Eastern Pathology Associates,

Selling Power, Lower Rates for Customers LLC (LRCLLC),

Richmond Hill, Bryan County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.

Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

We donate 1.5% of the money we make to this trust fund for the county….
Now we invest that money in Georgia bonds for the county.
And then the county only gets half of the interest
So the funds we donate for these counties will
grow forever
as a result of what we’re doing with the trust fund…

It’s invested in us, roads, airplanes, deep water, stuff like that.



And that’s the key actually.

Continue reading →

Solar Lowndes County Commission?

While GSEA is promoting statewide solar businesses and lobbying the state government to do what other states have done to promote solar,


local governments and businesses don’t have to wait
on the state.
For example, the

Lowndes County Commission has opened a discussion about solar energy
in response to a presentation by Bill Branham.
Now that they’ve learned

the Lowndes County Commission could lead by making one of their famous
position statements, this time in favor of solar,
or by putting solar on the roofs of their buildings (solar on the jail! imagine that),
bringing in money to do so by
or by applying for grants,
or by making a project big enough to apply for private venture capital
from the at least two firms that are looking for such projects.

If the LCC won’t do it, how about solar Valdosta fire departments,
or solar Hahira tobacco barns?

-jsq

The extraordinary negative side of coal mining —Jane Osborn @ LCC 13 September 2011



Jane Osborn talked about two health issues:
the downside of coal mining,
and no institutions for mental health.

…also related to

the solar discussion that was begun yesterday,
I think a piece we don’t talk about very often
is the extraordinary negative side of coal mining.
We are taking the tops off of mountains in Appalachia,
leaving pristine streams clogged with the debris and the toxic waste of that.
So coal is not just the price you see that we pay for it.
Coal is seen in the price of people still dying of black lung,
every time a mine collapses, and every time another mountain
is taken down.
I would guess if they were taking mountains down in North Georgia,
we’d be fussing about it.

She said she has been a social worker for 33 years.
She said starting June the DBHDD there would be a new service
she recommended the county advertise on its website.

As of June 1st

no person in the state of Georgia with
a developmental disability may be placed in an institution.

The new service is a 24/7 toll free number to call
for help.

Here’s

the video:




The extraordinary negative side of coal mining —Jane Osborn @ LCC 13 September 2011

Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),

Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.

Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

Flattery! —John S. Quarterman @ LCC 13 September 2011



The VDT picked up that I referred to Ashley Paulk’s

personal attention of the day before
as flattery.
Sorry, elected officials who can’t even get recognized by the Chairman:
bring a camera next time; then he’ll notice you!

First I pointed out that the Mayor of Hahira was in the room.
The Chairman had recognized the

new Mayor of Valdosta,
his replacement on the Valdosta City Council, and
the

Chair of the Lake Park Chamber of Commerce, but not the Mayor of Hahira.
I didn’t want anyone to think the County Commission
doesn’t care about Hahira!



Then I commended the voting Commissioners for their comments

Continue reading →

Solar is cost-effective —Dr. Noll @ LCC 13 September 2011



Dr. Noll made the case for the cost-effectiveness of solar energy
through, among other things, an analogy to finaninc buying a car.

First Dr. Noll thanked people who had supported

WACE’s anti-biomass work,
and hoped people had had time to read his recent LTE in the VDT,

Waste Not, Want Not.
Then he addressed Commissioner Raines’

comments of the previous day.
Dr. Noll pointed out that solar is

fast becoming less expensive
and with financing costs little more than a car or truck.

Here’s

the video:




Solar is cost-effective —Dr. Noll @ LCC 13 September 2011

Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),

Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.

Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

Solar for Georgia —Bill Branham @ LCC 12 September 2011



William Branham talked about solar initiatives he’s involved in
and a variety of public officials he’s talked to who are positive
on solar and renewable energy for generating jobs.
He pointed out that solar grew faster than any other energy source.
He mentioned the Chamber’s
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Network
(of which I am also a member).

After Branham spoke, Commissioner Raines cited one solar company that
had failed together with financing concerns and indicated he didn’t
think it was time for solar here.

I don’t agree with Commissioner Raines. What do you think?

Here’s

the video:




Solar for Georgia —Bill Branham @ LCC 12 September 2011

Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),

Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 September 2011.

Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq