Georgia Power gets OK to pursue solar energy

For years, Georgia Power has basically said that the Peach State wasn’t suitable for solar power because “we didn’t get enough sun.” (A year or two ago, I sat in on a Senate committee meeting where one executive told lawmakers that our air was too humid.)

Times have changed. The Georgia Public Service Commission today voted to allow the utility to begin generating solar power. That was in addition to some conservation initiatives as well. Great news!

Not so great: A proposal to require Georgia Power to purchase the clean energy from some of the state’s private solar companies was shot down. That, comrades, would be socialist as hell.

From the Atlanta Business Chronicle:

Under an agreement reached between the utility and PSC staff, Georgia Power will build up to one megawatt of solar generating capacity on its own.

Commissioners voted 3-2 to defeat a motion to add an additional megawatt of solar power to the plan that Georgia Power would purchase from private solar companies.

“There’s been some huge inroads in solar,” said Commissioner Chuck Eaton, who made the motion. “It’s an opportunity for more research.”

But Commissioner Doug Everett argued that requiring Georgia Power to buy even a small quantity of solar power from the private sector would increase ratepayers’ bills while customers already are facing a huge rate hike.

Georgia Power filed a request last week with the PSC for an increase that would drive up rates by more $1 billion during the next three years.

So about that $1 billion rate hike Georgia Power proposed... why not just deny that?