The Georgia Public Service Commission got a shock in November: After nearly two decades as an all-Republican body, two incumbent commissioners lost their seats. Georgia voters, frustrated by rising power bills, elected two Democrats with about 60 percent of the vote.
One of the ousted commissioners, Republican Tim Echols, was first elected to the PSC in 2010. In the world of energy regulation, Echols was a singular figure. Prior to joining the commission, he hosted a radio show called Energy Matters and conducted what he calls a “clean energy roadshow,” in which he showcased alternative-fuel vehicles and held panel discussions at events around the state. As a commissioner, he angered a student environmental group by telling them climate change wasn’t his lane, frustrated public commenters who often complained of feeling dismissed or unheard, and called fossil fuel plants “absolutely critical.” He also championed the new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle and pushed for more rooftop solar, electric vehicles, energy efficiency programs, and alternative fuels, which often put Echols at odds with his party. Read more
