In the Southeast, transportation and electricity are the highest carbon-emitting sectors.
Tag: Energy
Posted inLatest News
Georgia Power’s energy plan, coal ash, Plant Vogtle due for discussion in 2022
Georgia Power’s three-year plan to meet the state’s energy needs is due to be filed with state regulators by Jan. 31 and marks the start of a yearlong discussion of a wide array of energy topics.
Posted inLatest News
New Fulton County authority to face poverty-causing gaps in digital, energy systems
To address root causes of poverty in Fulton County, by bridging the digital and energy divides, a new authority was impaneled Monday with wide powers to address various issues that impede improvements in struggling neighborhoods.
Posted inColumns
Plant Vogtle: Georgia’s shame
By Guest Columnist PATTY DURAND, president of Cool Planet Solutions
Georgia Power has the only nuclear plant under construction in the United States, which I call “Georgia’s Shame.” It is shameful that the timeline the utility provided to regulators, investors and the public – those of us paying for this plant – is now six years behind schedule. And it is shameful that the utility’s cost estimates for this plant were off by a shocking 100%: The original cost estimate for the two new units was $14 billion, and 2021 costs are near or at $30 billion.
Posted inLatest News
Plant Vogtle’s latest delay prompts negative comment on Georgia Power: Moody’s
This story has been updated with comments from Georgia Power.
Posted inColumns
The hidden costs of affordable housing
By Guest Columnist WILLIAM D. BRYAN, program manager with the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
It’s no secret that Atlanta has an affordable housing problem. The city’s recent rapid growth has depleted affordable housing stock while an inflated real estate market has displaced many long-time residents. The city has approved a $100 million bond initiative to retain and develop dwellings affordable to those earning the salary of teacher or firefighter. But housing affordability depends on more than the price of shelter; it also depends on making energy affordable.
Posted inColumns
Natural gas hookup bill a sign of things to come
If there’s a bill before this year’s General Assembly which has the shape of things to come, it’s the measure which prohibits local governments from restricting utility hookups to buildings “based upon the type or source of energy or fuel to be delivered,” which means natural gas.
Posted inLatest News
Trump’s ban on offshore oil drilling also halts development of offshore wind farms to 2032
President Trump’s new ban that protects the coast of Georgia and other southern states from offshore oil and gas drilling also bans offshore wind farms until June 30, 2032, bloombergt.com reported Monday.
Posted inLatest News
Georgia utility sees credit boost by winning dispute with partner at Plant Vogtle
A credit upgrade for a Georgia utility is the latest outcome of the resolution of a contract dispute among partners building the only nuclear facility under construction in the nation, Plant Vogtle.
Posted inLatest News
Plant Vogtle: Age discrimination a new wrinkle in Westinghouse bankruptcy
Timothy Ellis claims he was fired in a clear case of age discrimination. Otherwise, Ellis is just one of many caught in the grinder as Westinghouse Electric Co. declared bankruptcy and lost its job building Plant Vogtle, the nuclear facility near Augusta.
Posted inColumns
A Georgia vote reveals innate tension between energy, environmental policies
The complete story of last week’s vote in Congress to ban offshore oil drilling isn’t evident in the final tally of votes. A “No” vote from Georgia’s representative from the coast belies his efforts to support the opposition to drilling off Georgia’s coast that’s been voiced by his constituents and Gov. Brian Kemp.
Posted inMain Slider
State regulators order up more renewable energy from Georgia Power
Georgia Power will add new renewable energy to its portfolio under a plan unanimously approved Tuesday by state regulators. The company also got approval to wind down more coal-burning units.
Posted inLatest News
Georgia’s endangered marine mammal to get relief from planned halt of offshore oil exploration
The second dead right whale of the year was reported last week, and by coincidence it was spotted the same day the U.S. House voted to block the expansion of offshore oil drilling in waters of Georgia and most of the rest of the nation. Offshore oil drilling activities are a hazard to endangered right whales and to other sea life, according to the federal government.
Posted inMaggie Lee
Advocates urge green and economic energy as Georgia regulators consider major power plan update
It’s the time for a periodic process when Georgia regulators and the public can try and change the balance among the interests that own power plants, live near them or use electricity.
Posted inColumns
Solar ready homes could be Atlanta’s next step toward 100 percent clean, renewable energy
By Guest Columnist JENNETTE GAYER, director of Environment Georgia
When you look at a rooftop, what do you see? A protective shelter for a family or a business, sure, but do you also see a missed opportunity? I do.
In a world facing so many environmental challenges – from polluted air and water that threatens the health of our communities, to a rapidly changing climate – our existing infrastructure must be a part of the solution.
Posted inColumns
Pruitt’s departure leaves an administration still in love with oil, gas and coal
Maybe it’s something in all that granite. Scott Pruitt isn’t the first public servant to succumb to Potomac Fever by far, but he exercised his sense of entitlement with memorable gusto.
Posted inLatest News
Ga. lawmakers punt on protest of offshore oil drilling as historic oil lease goes to market in Gulf of Mexico
As Georgia lawmakers defer voting on resolutions to oppose oil exploration and drilling off Georgia’s coast, on Wednesday the largest offshore oil and gas lease sale in the nation’s history was conducted for most of the Gulf of Mexico.
Posted inColumns
“Grieving” for Plant Vogtle has begun. What now?
It’s official: those responsible for the epic, multi-billion dollar construction failure unfolding at the Plant Vogtle nuclear plant are starting to experience the Five Stages of Grief.
Posted inLatest News
Hero or villain of Plant Vogtle could be billionaire pioneer of high risk junk bonds
The hero or villain of the effort to save Plant Vogtle could prove to be the head of a private equity firm who pioneered junk bonds and was nearly scuttled in 1990. Georgia Power protested terms of the loan deal, but a New York judge provided some protection and last week ordered that the entire $800 million in loan funds should flow.
