Margaret Walker (2:44)

Hi. Thanks for having us.

Kayla Hunter (2:45)

Thanks, Peter.

Peter Biello (2:47)

I'll start with you, Margaret. In your reporting, you've looked at how many people have made comments and what, broadly speaking, those people were speaking for or against. What did you find in the numbers.

Margaret Walker (2:58)

We looked at, Kayla can confirm it was close to 900 comments. Was that right, Kayla?

Kayla Hunter (3:06)

Yeah. The numbers ended up being about 42% of the almost a thousand comments expressed concern over using fossil fuels in the energy mix. For the last two Georgia Power Integrated Resources Plan, that was like 419 out of almost a thousand comments.

Margaret Walker (3:25)

And those concerns came in the ways of concern for their health, concern for the environment, concerned about climate change, concerned about future generations. The concerns came in many different forms and we looked into all, all of.

Peter Biello (3:40)

Those different categories and it seems as though, at least on first glance, that those preferences are not finding their way into the vote outcomes of the psc. You've spoken to some members of the Public Service Commission. What have they said when confronted with the accusation that they may not be listening to that 42%.

Margaret Walker (4:00)

The public service commissioners told us that they first care about safety, reliability and, and cost and then they look at sustainability as kind of like a fourth consideration. But those three things come first to them. And they did say that they read all of the public comment. They said if people reach out to us, then we read it or we listen to it. But when it came to voting, they still voted in favor of the heavily reliant fossil fuel plan because that I.

Peter Biello (4:36)

Guess, is safer in their view, or more cost effective.

Kayla Hunter (4:41)

Yeah, I mean one of the commissioners said, look like the concerns aren't as I would say they more so dismissed the level of people that are concerned. They said, look, those are just small pockets of concerns. Those aren't what you think they are. And we actually did the numbers and found 42%, which I would argue is bigger than a small pocket of concern. But they have. We could go into a lot more detail about their reasoning for voting the way they voted. A big claim they like to use is having a diverse energy mix.

Peter Biello (5:16)

Recently, GPB's Grant Blankenship spoke with PSC member Tim Echols and asked him about whether or not the voice of those showing up at public hearings, public comment, periods of being heard. And, and here's what he had to say.

Tim Echols (5:32)

I don't add up the comments. Okay, let's see. 50 said this and 70 said that and 90 said this. That is not how I set public policy. I set public policy based on Judgment. That's how I set public policy. I'm not just taking some kind of poll out here and making a decision based on a poll.

Peter Biello (5:51)

And he also told Grant Blankenship a few things, that some of the young people who raised the loudest objections recently were from out of state. And the other thing he said was that he simply knows more, that as a member of the psc, he has access to information that the public doesn't, and that's what he's making his decisions based on. I want to ask both of you what you make of his argument. We'll start with you, Kayla.

Kayla Hunter (6:14)

Well, I think what. What Grant is getting at is sort of like, well, how do you. How do you assess what to consider? And what do you. How do you essentially do your job? And if Eccles is saying that his job isn't to sort of count public comments or make tallies, it begs the question, well, what's the point of the public comments? What's the point of the process? You know, so, I mean, I think Eccles comment is, you know, obviously a very sort of. I think he's kind of running around the question of the purpose of the comments and why the plans continue to include energy sources that have proven time and time again to be harmful to public health and the stability of our planet and ecosystems.

Margaret Walker (7:03)

Margaret, I will say this about Echols. I think when we looked at how the commissioners, aside from public comment, are gathering information about what their constituents. Echols is an involved commissioner, so he goes to, I would argue, the most out of all of the commissioners, public meetings and events, interacting maybe with the most people in the public. However, what is the point of having a public comment forum if you're not considering it? Is it just a formality or.

Kayla Hunter (7:44)

Is.

Margaret Walker (7:44)

It actually being considered?

Peter Biello (7:46)

Well, in their defense, they're not saying that they're not considering it. It's just not outweighing other things that they have said are more important.

Margaret Walker (7:53)

Right, right, right.

Peter Biello (7:54)

The members of the PFC seem then to be citing their impression of a silent majority versus a vocal minority. And so I'm wondering, how is this different from any other public body where, you know, loud yet relatively smaller groups show up at meetings of democratically elected governing bodies, whether it be like school board or a city council, and they don't always get what they want. How is this different?

Kayla Hunter (8:18)

I think it's different because the Public Service Commission's role is to, I'll actually quote, the purpose of the Integrated Resource Plan. The overall objective of the plan should be based on current commission policy concerning minimizing customer bills, minimizing overall rates and maximizing net societal benefit. So I would say incorporating what, 42% of society that's paying the bills, maximizing their societal benefit would be an important thing to consider given that they are, you know, they are paid public officials and our tax dollars pay for their for their roles. And that's really their job is to sort of be in this position of both judgment and decision making and hearing out all the different voices of Georgia Power customers.

Peter Biello (9:07)

Climate reporters Margaret Walker with the Macon Telegraph and Kayla Hunter of the Columbus Ledger Inquirer, thank you so much for speaking with me.

Kayla Hunter (9:15)

Thank you, Peter.

Margaret Walker (9:17)

Thanks for having us.

Peter Biello (9:18)

And if you want to make a comment on the next integrated resource plan, the Georgia Public Service Commission is holding hearings next week. You can also make comments through the PSC's website. The PSC is expected to make a final decision on the Georgia Power IRP by mid July. Meanwhile, Governor Brian Kemp is throwing his support behind a proposed rate freeze for Georgia Power customers. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports.

Brian Kemp (9:43)

Kemp says the deal negotiated between Georgia Power and the Public Service Commission is good for consumers and businesses in the state.

Tim Echols (9:51)

That kind of long term thinking is shared by our utility partners and that's why energy in the state of Georgia is so reliable, plentiful and will remain so for decades to come.

Brian Kemp (10:04)

But energy rates are only one piece of your energy bill. So while rates will hold steady through 2028, consumer bills could still go up next year due to the cost of cleanup for Hurricane Helene or depending on how the PSC manages the expansion of power hungry data centers. The announcement comes about a month before the primary PSC elections scheduled for June 19. For GPB news, I'm Sarah Kallis at the State Capitol.

Peter Biello (10:30)

The nation's largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority, is asking federal regulators for a permit to build a small nuclear reactor. The federally owned utility provides electricity to seven states, including parts of North Georgia. The TVA says it submitted a construction permit application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It's the first time in the US That a utility is asking regulators to build a small nuclear reactor. The utility says it wants to develop next generation nuclear power in Oak Ridge, Tennessee at its Clinch river site. Atlanta Housing Authority is offering 20 years of property tax relief to seniors to help them age in place. But as GPB's Amanda Andrews reports, the deadline to apply is coming up.

Amanda Andrews (11:14)

The Anti Displacement Tax Relief Fund is open to residents over 60 making less than $48,000 a year for who have lived in Atlanta since at least 2015. It freezes residents property taxes and funds any increase for the next 20 years. Atlanta City Council candidate Wayne Martin says this tax relief helps the community grow.

Tim Echols (11:32)

Because it welcomes and invites new residents to move in. It welcomes and invites new commercial development without adding shock value to our senior citizens who have fixed incomes and do not experience rising incomes at the same level as younger residents.

Amanda Andrews (11:47)

The initiative is a partnership between the city and Invest Atlanta. The deadline to apply is May 31. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

Peter Biello (11:58)

A construction worker has been killed in a workplace accident at the Bryan county megasite in southeast Georgia, home to the newly opened $8 billion Hyundai Vehicle assembly plant. The accident happened yesterday at HLGA Battery, a Hyundai affiliate expected to manufacture batteries for the plant. The Bryan County Sheriff's Office said an unsecured load fell off a forklift found fatally striking a worker on the ground. In a statement, Hyundai extended its condolences to the family of the worker, whose name has not been released. GPB has reached out to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ask if an investigation into the death has been launched, but we have not heard back from the agency as of this recording. It's the second fatal forklift accident at the megasite since March. The U.S. army Corps of Engineers is closing two dozen parks and campgrounds in Georgia because of staffing shortfalls, the agency said today. The closures affect recreation areas around lakes Lanier and Allatoona, north of Atlanta, and Walter F. George and George W. Andrews in southwest Georgia. The announcement comes ahead of Memorial Day weekend, traditionally the start of summer lake season, an economic driver in many communities. It's unclear if the parks and campgrounds could remain open under state or local management. Amazon owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox is coming to Atlanta. The the company said yesterday it will deploy a small number of its testing fleet to downtown Atlanta. It says Atlanta's growing technology sector, diverse road conditions and unique weather conditions make the city a good place to launch its vehicles. The city has already seen autonomous vehicles. Waymo has been testing its self driving taxis, and the company says they'll be available to Atlanta customers soon through the Uber app. In sports, the Braves face the Nationals in Washington again tonight for the second of a four game series. Spencer Strider made his return to the mound last night after his second stint on the injured list. He gave up four earned runs and four and a third innings. AJ Smith Shawver is scheduled to start tonight for the Braves. In this final note, the police department in southeast Georgia's Hinesville reminded residents on social media today that getting out of your vehicle while in the middle of of a busy highway is a dangerous and, yes, illegal act. Why would the city's finest need to tell people that? Well, this morning on Highway 196, police said it looked like the opening scene of a heist movie with cash flying through the air and people hopping out of their cars thinking they just hit the jackpot. It turns out someone lost a bag full of motion picture Use only money, fake $100 bills that came off the back of a truck. The phony Benjamins covered the road and then, well, motorists became interested. Officers managed to clear the rogue bills from the highway, but they also reminded residents who might have snagged one before they did so that trying to pass movie prop bills as real money is a felony. And that's it for this edition of GEORGIA today. If you want to learn more about any of these stories, check out gpb.org news and come on back tomorrow. We hope you will. There's more news to be heard. Subscribe to this podcast. That's the best way to do it. And send us your feedback as well, if you've got any. The email address to use is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

Amanda Andrews (15:28)

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Tim Echols (15:33)

Garbage in New York that was like a controlled substance.

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I had a bad feeling you're gonna bring that up.

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