Solar power for tomorrow

This summer, in the State of Georgia, heated debate focuses around a common property resource – sunshine power, and its design within Georgia Power’s 20-year long range plan. The future of solar power for this State, rests with the Public Service Commission (PSC) that meets tomorrow, on July 11, 2013 to evaluate and vote on Georgia Power’s 20-year Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).

The past several weeks, the level of collective action emerging from diverse organizations, institutions and bipartisan political groups on solar power and the IRP has been remarkable. There is little doubt that within the renewable energy mixes ‘solar’ power is the people’s choice. This technology is versatile, easily accessible and promising.

Coincidentally, a few days ago, we also saw solar-powered plane “the Solar Impulse” make its final leg of revolutionary flight from Dulles International Airport to New York City. Solar technology is moving ahead at a much faster pace than utility regulators and Georgia’s politicians imagine.

Solar proponents argue that the IRP limits scope for solar technology innovation and development. Where countries like India, China, and Germany are making a significant headway in energy efficiency and solar sector development, Georgia’s 20-year energy plan does not include provision for additional renewable energy, limiting solar energy output. This limit on solar has caught the attention of a number of advocates and organizations that argue that additional solar power is required not only for cleaner environment but also for job creation. Deepening the argument further, Georgia Power’s phasing out of sixteen coal and oil fired power plants is anticipated to eliminate jobs. Additionally, tighter federal restrictions on emissions from coal burning plants will necessitate a concentrated focus on solar power. Expanding the solar sector provides the potential of filling and replacing job voids created with the phasing out of coal plants. With all these facts and noises in the background, the crux of the debate centers on the designed allocation and production of solar energy output. The utility’s IRP outlines energy sources and mixes for providing electricity to its customer. Currently, the IRP plans for 270 Mega Watt (MW) of solar output for the next twenty years. 

The proposed solar power output figure is contested. A broad bipartisan coalition including the conservative wing of the G.O.P., the Tea Party Patriots are calling for a better number and a vision within the IRP in shaping the direction of energy diversification and security for the State of Georgia.

Solar proponents, consumer advocate groups, environmental organizations, individuals and private organizations are demanding that Georgia Power adds 525 MW of solar energy. This addition would represent around 1.5% of solar mix within Georgia’s energy portfolio, which compared to global energy mix is still far behind. The International Energy Agency estimates that by 2018, renewable energy mix will represent around 25 percent of the world’s energy mix with solar contributing significantly within this mix.