Georgia has taken a huge step toward planting the seeds needed to grow a clean-energy economy.
As part of Georgia Power's 20-year energy plan, the Georgia Public Service Commission not only voted to approve Georgia Power's plans to retire 20 percent of its oldest and dirtiest coal plants but also issued an order directing the Southern Company subsidiary to add 525 MW of solar to its fuel mix by 2016. This additional solar means that Georgia will have 1 gigawatt of clean wind and solar energy online by 2017. Georgia is fifth in the nation for solar energy potential, yet languishes in 38th place for the total number of solar power projects currently installed.
"This is the most important news anyone can remember," said Georgia-based Sierra Club organizer Seth Gunning. "Whereas we used to see the Public Service Commissioners as rubber-stampers for Georgia Power's agenda, this huge ruling shows that this is no longer the case It's a monumental shift for the potential of the state's clean energy future."