December 2017 – Page 4 of 6

Hot mic: John Noel’s outlaw testimony at the Georgia Public Service Commission

FREE JOHN NOEL! (OK, he hasn’t been arrested yet.) When John Noel showed up to speak as a public witness Monday at the Georgia Public Service Commission, Chairman Stan Wise cut him off, claiming that, as a PSC candidate he had “other forums.” Noel was irritated at the censorship. He’d spoken at the PSC several times before, as a legislator, later as an energy-efficiency expert, and most recently in June—as a PSC candidate. So what happened between June and now? Well, there was this. Needless to say, Wise is not a big fan of Noel, who wants to take the PSC seat of the chairman’s buddy, Chuck Eaton. Not to be denied, Noel took matters into his own hands and produced a…

At Georgia PSC hearing, thin-skinned Stan Watson talks about jailing the opposition

It looks like next year’s Georgia Public Service Commission races are going to be a big brawl over Plant Vogtle. Get your popcorn while you can still afford the electricity to microwave it. I know, it causes cancer. But life is short, right? Some strangeness today: Did Georgia Public Service Chairman Stan Wise threaten John @NoelForPSCwith arrest at today’s hearing? Thin-skinned Stan complains about unauthorized public testimony, quotes GA Code, admits he doesn’t know what it means, and talks about Noel going out in handcuffs. An energy-efficiency expert and former state legislator, Noel didn’t take kindly to being banned from giving testimony at Monday’s hearing, so he did something about it, testifying to (near?) empty chambers during the lunch hour and recording his…

Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle, a slam-dunk 2 weeks ago, now looks like an own-goal

By Jonathan Grant On Twitter: @Brambleman We may be seeing the Plant Vogtle expansion dying before our eyes. Jacksonville Electric Authority wants out. Georgia’s muncipal electrics and EMCs want Georgia Power’s customers to shoulder cost overruns, of which there will be many. The PSC staff says Vogtle shouldn’t be completed unless shareholders assume the risk. The PSC wants to vote “go” or “no-go” before the end of the year, because cancellation carries $150 million in tax benefits. Here’s the latest.

Georgia PSC chairman Stan Wise hates John @NoelforPSC and showed it

John Noel showed up to speak at a Georgia Public Service Commission meeting today, ready to talk solar and conservation but mainly no Vogtle. He was not allowed. So he look a picture (above). Vogtle is the subject up for debate at the commission. The commissioners haven’t really been debating Vogtle, of course. Shoulda, but instead the five merry Republicans have been rubber-stamping utility requests like Harpo Marx. Commissioners are so deep in bed with Georgia Power/Vogtle that they’ve been reaching over and shutting off the company’s alarm clock every morning for years. Now, a wake-up call. Or two. Hell, make it twenty-five billion. Despite gaming the system completely and constantly getting its way at the Commission and Georgia General Assembly, Southern Company…

Atlanta media cover boring DeKalb BOE meeting because Mary Norwood

So I went to the DeKalb Board of Elections today and it was the most boring meeting ever. How boring? It took them twenty minutes past start time to muster a quorum! But the news media showed up–five reporters, including three TV crews. The BOE was certifying the election results from last Tuesday, and sad mayoral candidate Mary Norwood was there. As part of her recount strategy, I guess. I’d never met her before, so I said Hey. I don’t live in Atlanta, or Atlanta in DeKalb, just DeKalb. Anyway, they certified, which is housekeeping, and Mary Norwood talked to the cameras and the media covered … well, nothing, really. During public comments, I took the floor and told them about how…

Hall County official filmed sex acts with unresponsive men

Photo: David Kimbrell/Channel 2 Action News The victims in this case don’t want to step up and press charges. Perhaps this case will help some men finally see why women might want to have remained silent, as well. People can feel stigmatized from being a victim. Shouldn’t, but they do. From the AJC: A fired Hall County official won’t face charges despite detectives discovering videos of him performing sex acts on men who appeared unresponsive and denied having a consensual, sexual relationship with him, authorities said. On two occasions, former Hall County emergency management director David Kimbrell is accused of filming himself performing oral sex on two men while they were drunk or unresponsive, according to documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The…

Brambleman

Georgia politics, history, and other stuff

Month: December 2017