Alternative energies a focus of debate at Temple forum
by Maggie Lee, for the Atlanta Jewish Times
“The era of cheap oil is over,” Nobel Laureate Marilyn Brown declared to some 200 people at The Temple in Midtown on Jan. 10. Her audience was there to figure out how to end the U.S.’ and their own oil addictions.
Brown, a professor of Public Policy at Georgia Tech and a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for her research on climate change, was one of three panelists who spoke about oil dependence and renewable alternatives at a forum sponsored in part by the American Jewish Committee.
The evening began with the film “Houston, We Have a Problem,” which details the U.S.’ heavy dependence on foreign oil, especially from unfriendly regimes. Then the speakers gave some remarks and took questions from the floor. After the film, most people wanted to know how shift to alternatives.
“When you’re making a selection of vehicles, you have choices,” said panelist and Clean Cities Atlanta Executive Director Don Francis, suggesting people look into electric cars. He admitted, “maybe it’s not cost-effective now,” but said there have to be first adopters who push technology with their wallets, like the people who bought the first iPhones.
Though Georgia’s electricity chiefly comes from coal, some comes from cleaner-burning natural gas as well, and electric vehicles don’t require the oil it takes to make gas.
At home, insulation is an easy first step, Francis suggested. Geothermal heat pumps will also cut electric bills, though like the electric car, they might not make a cost savings for years.
Tim Echols knows a lot about Georgia’s prospects for renewable energy. He’s chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission, which oversees Georgia Power and regulates electricity and natural gas prices. “I’m committed to helping Georgians learn about alternatives,” said Echols, who attended the movie event.
He uses solar energy at his own home and drives a natural gas-powered car.
But Brown suggested that Georgia has a poor regulatory climate for alternatives. Twenty-nine states have a green energy portfolio requirement — some quota of electricity must come from renewable sources. Georgia does not; a bill now in the state legislature suggests utilities set a voluntary goal of sourcing seven percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. The bill has not moved since it was filed in March 2011.
Georgia Power has long declined to buy much solar energy from Georgia farms, on the grounds that it’s a premium over fossil-fueled energy that customers don’t want to pay.
However, that may be changing. Echols’ PSC last year commanded Georgia Power to buy or generate another 50 MW of solar power annually — enough to power about 7,000 homes. Fifty MW is more than ten times what they’re buying now.
People have to lobby their elected officials, said John Duffield, the third panelist and a political science professor at Georgia State University. “Vote for the candidates this year who are going to take Georgia in that direction.”
Georgia’s entire 236-member legislature is up for re-election this year. Each of Georgia’s five PSC members must come from a different district of the state but all are elected statewide. Two seats will appear on this year’s ballot.
“Energy security has been an issue for the American Jewish community for almost 40 years now,” said AJC Regional Director Dov Wilker. Where you buy your gas is “an issue of safety and security for both the U.S. and Israel,” he added. So the AJC has made it part of its mission to help its members and partners understand the issue of energy security. Despite its name, the American Jewish Committee actually has offices and partnerships in several countries.
Said Wilker: “Everywhere we work, energy is important.”