Georgia Magazine - July 2013 - (Page 15)
Georgia’s energy outlook BY HILL BENTLEY AND GREG MULLIS, TRI-COUNTY EMC, AND BILL VERNER, GEMC
H
Sunlight is free ... solar power is not
ouse Bill 657 was introduced in
March 2013, self-titled the “Rural
Georgia Economic Recovery and
Solar Resource Act of 2014.” The
bill purports to expand solar electric generation in Georgia, creating
a monopoly “community solar provider” from which an electric utility1
would be required to purchase a set
minimum amount of energy at rates2
established by the Public Service
Commission (PSC).
Who pays for the necessary backup
generation for solar power to
ensure an uninterrupted supply
of electrical energy?
Georgia’s electric membership
cooperatives (EMCs) encourage the
smart implementation of renewable
energy. In fact, Georgia’s electric
co-ops were the first utilities in the
state to offer renewable energy
through Green Power EMC. But creating winners and losers through legislative action like HB 657 is the
wrong approach.
Solar power is one of the oldest
productive sources of energy, so why
isn’t it utilized more in the generation of electricity? Most electric utilities, whether owned and operated
by a municipality for its citizens, an
investor-owned utility like Georgia
Power or a member-owned electric
cooperative, often are criticized for
not using enough “free” solar energy
to power the grid.
There are major questions that
must be addressed when solar powHB 657’s proponents claim the legislation only applies to Georgia
Power, but there are significant ramifications to all electricity
customers and to sound energy policy in Georgia.
1
HB 657’s “community solar provider”—a de facto solar monopoly—selected by the PSC would be guaranteed a profit under
terms established by the PSC. A law that requires a minimum
purchase of solar energy at a price that guarantees a profit will
be a great deal for the lone “community solar provider” selected
should HB 657 become law, but we are at a loss to understand
how such a proposal will benefit consumers.
2
July 2013
er is compared to nuclear, coal and
natural gas as a viable alternative. For
instance: Who pays for the necessary
backup generation for solar power to
ensure an uninterrupted supply of
electrical energy?
backup source for solar generation,
as they can be turned on quickly
to meet demand, but these turbines
and the fuel they use aren’t free, and
all consumers foot the bill to ensure
they are ready when needed.
Obligation to serve
Solar power doesn’t count
(significantly) to meet required
generation reserves
Critics typically fail to acknowledge a fundamental statutory requirement for all electric utilities: the
obligation to serve reliable and affordable electricity 24 hours a day,
365 days a year. This obligation to
serve requires electric utilities to provide safe, reliable electric service to
all customers without discrimination.
In addition, utilities must have an
infrastructure plan in place to meet
projected demand up to 20 years into
the future. The remarkable success
in meeting this obligation for more
than 70 years has unfortunately lulled
most of us to take for granted what is
required to provide electricity for our
homes and businesses.
Solar power is being responsibly
incorporated into utility scale generation portfolios and at hundreds of
small-scale locations throughout the
state, but more importantly, all consumers are paying for their utility to
keep the lights on whether or not the
sun is shining.
Marginal value at peak demand
Solar power is only available for
a few hours on sunny days. In winter,
consumer demand for most Georgia
EMCs peaks in the morning hours
before the sunrise. In the summer,
EMCs’ peak consumer demand is
greatest from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., when
solar power makes its daily decline
toward zero. Simply put: For every
kilowatt of solar panels installed,
consumers are paying for almost
a full kW of backup generation for
when the sun isn’t shining. Natural
gas-fired turbines are the preferred
More online at www.georgiamagazine.org
Utilities are also required to
maintain a margin of surplus generation reserves—roughly 10-15
percent—to prevent interruptions to
power supply, and these reserves are
paid for by consumers in monthly
power bills. Intermittent resources
like solar cannot count toward a utility’s reserve margin in a meaningful
way since it cannot be turned on at
a moment’s notice. In a nutshell, having solar power on the grid does not
eliminate the need for investment in
reliable, 24/7 resources like coal, nuclear and natural gas.
We hope this article has shed
some light on the realities of solar
power, and helps explain our headline “Sunlight is free ... solar power
is not.” Cooperatives have two purposes: to provide safe, reliable electric
energy to their members and to keep
the cost for that energy as low as
possible for all.
Look for more discussion on solar
power in GEORGIA Magazine, and visit the
Georgia General Assembly’s website,
www.legis.ga.gov, to read HB 657.
Visit www.georgiaenergydata.org/solar
map to see how solar is progressing
remarkably well in Georgia without legislative intervention.
Go to www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/
gemc/2012energyreport to learn more
about how you can make your home or
business a good steward of energy resources, and, as always, contact your local
EMC for help as well.
15
http://www.legis.ga.gov
http://www.georgiaenergydata.org/solarmap
http://www.georgiaenergydata.org/solarmap
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/2012energyreport
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/2012energyreport
http://www.georgiamagazine.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - July 2013
Georgia Magazine - July 2013
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Liberty Notes
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar of Events
Georgia’s Energy Outlook
Currents
Fly-in or Drive-In
“Air Fare America”
Wood Basket of the World
Link to Video on Georgia’s Tree Industry
Lighten Up!
Control What You Consume
Around Georgia
Enhancing your adventure
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Snapshot
More Snapshot photos
Plant of the month
July’s online trivia contest
Georgia Grown spotlight
Georgia Magazine - July 2013
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