Regulators To Ga. Power: More Solar | Georgia Public Broadcasting

Commissioner Doug Everett asked Georgia Power’s Kevin Greene if the company approved of including more solar resources to its energy mix. Greene said the company didn’t have an opinion.

“We believe we can [implement the decision] and we believe we can do so in the best interests of the citizens of Georgia,” Greene said. “It was not our proposal, but I don’t view it as my place to approve or disapprove of a particular motion. We’ll follow the commission’s direction.”

Greene said more solar shouldn’t push power rates up. But Commissioner Stan Wise disagreed. He said the company already has twice as much extra capacity – known as reserve margin – as it needs to provide reliable power.

“My colleagues do not know whether solar prices are dropping or static or climbing. We’re in such a rush to do this, you’re acting before you even know what bids come in under the current [Advanced Solar Initiative] program,” Wise said. “Knowing that the utility is long on power, you forced them to take this solar [and] you don’t know the cost of the cheaper power that Georgia Power must take offline to accommodate this resource.”

Wise spoke after commissioners had already voted on adding the solar requirement. He tried to speak beforehand, but other commissioners forced a vote. That left Wise saying he was muzzled.

“Smart energy purchases are better left to the experts with the long view in mind, not the social engineers. But that’s what we’re engaging in today: social engineering. You are engaged in Washington-style, feel-good, energy policy. You’re not making this decision based on economics or any rational public-policy argument,” Wise said.

Commissioner Lauren “Bubba” McDonald proposed the extra solar. He said lower costs make now the time to act.

via Regulators To Ga. Power: More Solar.