PSC candidates debate touches on regulation, nuclear reactors

Republican Lauren McDonald said he knows how to run a business and “my business is the same as the public’s business.”

Democrat Jim Powell said he knows energy and energy planning, and that Georgia needs that more than ever these days.

The two state Public Service Commission candidates faced each other for the last time Sunday, in a debate sponsored by Georgia Public Broadcasting and the Atlanta Press Club. The debate aired Monday night, a week before their Dec. 2 runoff.

Powell won 47.9 percent of the vote on Nov. 4, and McDonald had 47.2 percent. A Libertarian got the rest.

During the debate, Republican McDonald defended the fact that he used to be a Democrat before losing his PSC seat six years ago.

“My philosophy hasn’t changed,” he said. “The Democratic Party has changed. I am not a Nancy Pelosi. I am not a senator from Nevada, Harry Reid.”

Democrat Powell defended his decades of experience at the U.S. Department of Energy, after McDonald questioned what he’d done “while gas prices soared.”

He said he specialized in energy efficiency and renewable energy, areas that hadn’t been supported by the departing presidential administration. He said he was prepared to lead when the incoming administration reverses that.

The two poked at each other’s supporters.

McDonald raised Powell’s endorsement by the Sierra Club, the environmental group “that is opposed to new nuclear power and in favor of decommissioning reactors.”

Powell, who like McDonald is open to nuclear power, said the group was “going to endorse someone and they’re certainly not going to endorse you, Bubba,” using McDonald’s former nickname.

He said McDonald’s receipt of money from utility lobbyists and lawyers spoke to McDonald’s affinity for utility interests.

“Did you ever, in the years before you were voted off the PSC, consider standing up for the consumer instead of standing up for the utilities?” he asked.

Due to debate rules, McDonald was not allowed to respond.

McDonald expressed support for easing regulation on natural gas marketers, saying remaining regulation had kept gas rates too high.

Powell said he would oppose Georgia Power’s attempts to have customers pay for nuclear reactors that aren’t yet built.

Both said the state’s and Georgia Power’s “green energy” programs were too costly.

Both closed on the high road.

Powell said he had “the experience, courage and vision to lead Georgia into the 21st century energy world.”

McDonald said his years of experience running a business would help him navigate the multimillion-dollar decisions facing the PSC.