Politics
Politics

Solar power bill passes key Georgia House panel

By
Jan 28, 2015

Legislation aimed at making it easier and more affordable for Georgia homeowners and small businesses to put solar panels on their rooftops passed a key House panel on a unanimous vote Wednesday.

Sponsored by Republican Rep. Mike Dudgeon of Johns Creek, House Bill 57 clarifies how homeowners can get outside financing of small solar installations. The measure quickly cleared the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee without dissent and is now headed to the Rules Committee.

The bill has been in the works for months. More than 90 parties were involved with it, including utilities and solar companies, Dudgeon said. Officials with Georgia Power and trade associations that represent electric cooperatives and the solar power industry spoke in favor of the bill at Wednesday’s hearing.

“Everyone approached the table with an open, honest attitude, trying to reach a good deal,” Dudgeon said moments before the vote. “I think we reached a good deal that makes everybody happy.”

About the Author

Jeremy Redmon is an award-winning journalist, essayist and educator with more than three decades of experience reporting for newspapers. He has written for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2005.

Follow Jeremy Redmon on facebookFollow Jeremy Redmon on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

“Half a million Georgians are projected to lose their health insurance; a million and a half or more to see their premiums double,” U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said. “That’s a health care crisis and an affordability crisis for my constituents.” (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Georgia’s Democratic members of Congress pan shutdown deal

The U.S. Senate has signed off on legislation to end the government shutdown, and the House is scheduled to follow despite objections from Democrats.

32m ago

DOJ asked for 2020 election records. Fulton County responded: By ignoring it.

Fulton County faces pressure to hand over documents from the 2020 election, but the county isn't budging.

Special election set in December for two state House seats

Voters in two Georgia House districts will have special elections in December.

The Latest

“Half a million Georgians are projected to lose their health insurance; a million and a half or more to see their premiums double,” U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said. “That’s a health care crisis and an affordability crisis for my constituents.” (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Georgia’s Democratic members of Congress pan shutdown deal

32m ago

Special election set in December for two state House seats

DOJ asked for 2020 election records. Fulton County responded: By ignoring it.

Featured

The DeKalb school district is suing to recover money spent on cellphone lockers, plus money spent on implementing social media guidelines and hosting associated events, lost teaching time and to hire extra school counselors. (The New York Times file)

Credit: NYT

DeKalb school district reveals $4M social media addiction problem

The district is suing social media companies to get them to pay for addressing students' addiction to apps like Instagram. The companies argue they aren't to blame.

Atlanta airport sees continued cancellations because of shutdown

More than 115 flight cancellations were recorded on a quieter frigid Tuesday morning, far below Saturday's surge of 370.

2h ago

For Ossoff and Georgia Democrats, the shutdown fight is the message

The fight over the federal government shutdown has allowed Georgia Democrats, like U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, to show that they have the grit to stand up to Republicans.