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<\/a>\nHe did find\n<\/a>\nHe did find\nthis list of “renewable energy strategy”\nhits from a GEFA search.<\/a>\nAt least one of those links points us to http:\/\/www.georgiaenergyplan.org\/,\nwhich now gets us\n\nAre you interested in buying this domain name?\n<\/blockquote>\nThe state has apparently abandoned that domain.\nIs that an indication of how seriously Georgia takes renewable energy?\n\nHere’s something that looks promising:\n\nState Energy Strategy for Georgia<\/a> (SESG),\nDecember 14, 2006, Governor’s Energy Policy Council, GEFA.\nIt says it’s an energy strategy, but it’s mostly\nabout transportation of existing fuels such as natural gas.\nTowards the end of the document in Figure 2 (shown above) the SESG illustrates\nthe pit we’re in: about a third of Georgia’s energy comes from coal,\nanother third from petroleum, a sixth from natural gas, and so little\nfrom renewable sources they apparently weren’t worth putting on the pie chart.\n
\nThe SESG does contain this:\n\n\n
\nPolicy Objective\n
\nMaximize Development of In-State, Cost-Competitive Bio-Based Transportation Fuels and Expansion of the Retail Infrastructure\n<\/blockquote>\nand this:\n\nPolicy Objective\n
\nMaximize Vehicle Fuel Efficiency in Georgia to Enhance Transportation Fuel\n<\/blockquote>\nThose are good goals.\n\nBut it also includes this:\n
\nPolicy Objective\n
\nEnhance Petroleum Infrastructure to Minimize Vulnerability to Supply Disruptions\n<\/blockquote>\nIn which it considers building crude oil refineries in Georgia.\nOr in-state storage facilities.\nYou know, when you’re already in a pit, stop digging!\nIf we’re going to invest, let’s invest in renewable energy,\nnot more of the same oil addiction.\n\nThere is some discussion in the SESG of distributed electricity generation (DG)\nand combined heat and power generation.\nThere is even a very brief mention of:\n
\n\n<\/a>\nFive years ago, the Georgia General Assembly sought to promote\nDG by approving the “Georgia Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Act of 2001” (O.C.G.A. 46-3-50 et seq.).\nThis law permits a reesidential or commercial consumer that operates a small electricity generation system on its side of the meter &emdash; such as a residential solar system\n&emdash; to sell electricity back to the utility when the power is not needed on-site.\n<\/blockquote>\nThis is good. I’ve taken advantage of this\n\nby connecting my solar panels to the grid<\/a>:\nthe first-ever such connection through Colquitt Electric EMC.\nAnd that’s the problem: the first and only.\nA good idea left dormant, with no promotion by the major electric utilities\nor by municipalities or the state or anyone else.\n
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\nPolicy Objective\n\nEncourage Investment in Clean, Viable Next Generation Electricity\nTechnology\n
\nSeveral viable emerging energy technologies are promising higher levels of generation\nefficiency, power reliability and improved environmental performance. As is often the case,\nthese technologies cost more money and\/or require adjustments in infrastructure or the market\nthat are slow to occur. Throughout U.S. history, the federal and state governments have\nimplemented policy to stimulate the commercialization or deployment of the next generation of\ncritical technologies.\n<\/blockquote>\nSo the state of Georgia is willing to consider massive investments\nin crude oil refineries, yet immediately pooh-poohs clean electricity\ngeneration?\nWe won’t dig out of the pit we’re in that way.\n
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\nMeanwhile,\n\nTexas has encouraged solar, and between 2004 and 2006 almost\ndoubled production<\/a>, with continued rampup since then.\nWhy does Georgia not do the same?\n
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<\/a>\nWhere’s the rest of a Georgia Renewable Energy strategy?\nSolar, wind, waves<\/a>, tides, etc.?\n