In this blog, we examine the policies and positions of Jason Shaw, the Republican candidate running for District 1 on Georgia's Public Service Commission. Also in this series we profile Robert Bryant, the Democratic candidate for District 1 on Georgia's Public Service Commission.
Guest Blog | July 28, 2020 | Elections, Energy Policy, Georgia
This post is part of a series of blogs examining where 2020 Southeastern candidates for state and federal offices stand on key energy and climate issues. Note: The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Links to reports, candidate websites and outside sources are provided as citizen education tools.
READ THE ‘WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND’ BLOG SERIES
In this blog, we examine the policies and positions of Jason Shaw, the Republican candidate running for District 1 on Georgia’s Public Service Commission. Also in this series we profile Robert Bryant, the Democratic candidate for District 1 on Georgia’s Public Service Commission. Also appearing on the ballot for this race will be Elizabeth Melton (Libertarian candidate).
While the exact roles and responsibilities of a Public Service Commissioner (or Public Utility Commissioner) vary from state to state, their general role is the regulation and oversight of essential utility services such as energy, telecommunications, and water. Some states, such as Georgia, elect the members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) while other states appoint their members through the Governor or the General Assembly.
Shaw earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia, and was appointed to the Commission in 2019 by Governor Nathan Deal to serve out the remainder of the term vacated by former Commissioner Doug Everett. Prior to that, Shaw was a four-term member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 to 2018 where he served four years as Chairman of the Georgia Legislative Rural Caucus.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
On his campaign website, Shaw states his goal to “Diversify energy sources with new and renewable technologies.” Shaw has supported increasing the state’s biomass capacity. He voted for the deployment of solar as a Commissioner, and continues to support solar.
Climate Change
We were unable to confirm the candidate’s position on this energy-related issue in published media, public records, or the campaign website.
Electric Transportation
Shaw has supported electric transportation and its benefits to the economy: “The numbers we’re seeing are staggering in terms of what that market will look like in the next 5-10 years… I think that the changes taking place are gonna do nothing but benefit the local tax base.”
Energy Equity and Energy Burden
We were unable to confirm the candidate’s position on this energy-related issue in published media, public records, or the campaign website.
High-Risk Energy (Coal, Nuclear, Oil, Gas)
Shaw supports plant Vogtle and called it “an important part in Georgia’s plan to provide safe and reliable energy for a growing state.”
If you are interested in learning more about where your state’s candidates for federal and state office stand on energy, click here to access the entire 2020 blog series. We encourage readers to register to vote well before registration deadlines, which are in early October but vary by state, and vote in the general election on or before November 3, 2020. For voting information in Georgia, including updates about the impact of COVID-19 on voting, click here. Stay tuned for more posts in this series to come!
READ THE ‘WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND’ BLOG SERIES
#CandidatesOnEnergy2020
This blog was researched and co-written by Suzanne Hollis, a rising junior at the University of North Carolina studying environmental science quantitative energy systems and physics and Jennifer Rennicks, former Senior Director of Policy & Communications at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.