Tag: PSC

Georgia’s solar-powered John Noel qualifies for Public Service Commission

It’s official: Democrat John Noel of Atlanta plunked down his money and signed the paperwork to run for Georgia Public Service Commission Post 3. His plan: unseat GOP incumbent and Plant Vogtle cheerleader Chuck Eaton. John wants Georgia to move away from “dinosaur thinking and dinosaur fuels” and supply our future energy needs with solar power and other clean, renewable resources. He also will be a voice for consumers, not utility lobbyists–which is what the current commission is all about. Here’s the latest example of a commission that climbed into bed with the utilities a decade ago and hasn’t woken up since. John will face at least one opponent in the May 22 primary, Lindy Miller of Decatur. From his news release: Surrounded…

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Georgia PSC candidate John Noel is running with the sun

PSC candidate John Noel wants Georgia’s energy future to be solar-powered By Jonathan Grant Republican victories in Georgia Public Service Commission races have been so predictable in recent years that Democrats haven’t bothered to field a candidate in three of the past five elections. Next year is shaping up to be quite different for the state’s asleep-at-the-wheel all GOP regulatory agency, however. Here’s why: Democrats are energized. Georgia Power’s troubled $25 billion (and counting) Plant Vogtle expansion has put a harsh spotlight on the PSC and its past decisions. Candidate John Noel, a colorful, dynamic energy-efficiency expert and walk-the-walk solar power advocate with political chops. The former Democratic state legislator with an unforgettable nickname is grabbing endorsements and making a splash with…

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People who learn about Plant Vogtle become “uniformly angry”

  Two Georgia Public Service Commission seats are up for election in 2018. Plant Vogtle will be an issue across the state next year. BACKGROUND: Georgia Power is building out Nuclear Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 despite massive cost overruns (it’s at $25 billion plus), bankruptcies, and mismanagement. Thanks to pro-utility Senate Bill 31 passed in 2009, ratepayers have been forced to pay financing costs (averaging $100 a year per customer) and therefore bearing the risk of construction, although Georgia Power alone will reap the profits. No wonder they want to keep going, right? Hearings are currently underway that will result in a February vote by commissioners, who are elected statewide, on whether to approve continued construction. One of them plans…

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