Comments on: SEIA Applauds Georgia Power Solar Roadmap (Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative)

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Kyle, do you have a source for total installed solar capacity up until today (or close to it)? I’ve been wanting to do a piece on per capita solar, but not finding a good source of data.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 06:24:00 +0000

Southern Company is building two new very expensive nuclear reactors. They’ve managed to get the Georgia state government to allow them to overcharge their customers in order to seize money from customers to help pay for these reactors. Once the reactors are built they will almost certainly raise rates even higher to pay for their cost and financing.
They’ve got to be sweating bullets hoping that customer owned solar doesn’t destroy their ability to make a profit, even avoid bankruptcy. Over the next 5-10 years while they work to bring their reactors on line solar prices are going to fall and we may see very affordable storage appear.
Just imagine what will happen when customers start fleeing in mass by setting up their own power systems in order to avoid the high cost of new nuclear.

I don’t think anyone should be surprised to see Southern Company trying to prevent wind and solar coming on line.

By: Kyle Sager

Kyle Sager — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 06:08:00 +0000

A little perspective: As of TODAY, New Jersey has 330 MW solar power installed. The goal touted in this article is 210 MW.

New Jersey’s population is 10% smaller than Georgia’s today. New Jersey sits about 435 miles north of Georgia’s latitude and thus receives much less direct sun. So we are told it’s exciting that Georgia will have 60% LESS SOLAR in 5 years than a smaller state with less sun and less people has installed TODAY? Here is a hint: New Jersey did most of its 330 MW in much less time than Georgia Power is targeting.

Stop fighting renewable goals at the legislature and stop fighting 3rd party financing for rooftop solar. Rooftop solar is important. This is about climate. This is about our children and their children being able to farm food.

By: Kyle Sager

Kyle Sager — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 05:40:00 +0000

Georgia Power needs to get out of the way of state legislation for 3rd party financing of rooftop solar. Given our location, solar deployments in other regions of the country and world, and climate change (Sandy)…210 MW by 2017 is inadequate. Southern Company is spending at times beyond $12 million a year just on lobbying. ===> Southern Company just took live an 840 MW Natural Gas power in McDonough! Four times the “goal” for solar in 2017. If similar massive natural gas installations take place elsewhere over the next 5 years…That comparison is what will tell you Southern Company’s commitment to preventing the destruction we are doing to the planet with CO2. Georgia Power needs to start structuring smart grid and let customers do rooftop solar the way other geographies are.

Rooftop solar is key. Show you care for real. Support rooftop solar.