State panel OKs disputed high-volt power line bill

State panel OKs disputed high-volt power line bill

By CARLOS CAMPOS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Legislation regulating the placement of high-voltage power lines passed a House committee Thursday, but citizen activists say the bill will do little to help consumers.

The measure approved by the House public utilities committee would require power companies to obtain a "certificate of need" from the state Public Service Commission and hold public hearings before constructing power lines of more than a mile long and stronger than 115 kilovolts.

But a consumer group lobbying for stricter oversight derided the legislation as "a power company bill" that has little benefit for homeowners opposing the lines. Mike Carter, president of Homeowners Opposing Powerline Encroachment (HOPE) of Georgia, said his group would rather see no bill pass.

Committee Chairman Rep. David Lucas (D-Macon) said the bill needed to move forward, since Tuesday is the last day the House can pass a bill to the Senate. He said the bill could be amended later.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ralph Twiggs (D-Hiawasee), goes to the House Rules Committee, which determines what legislation will make it to the House floor. Rules is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. today.

Jeannine Rispin, a spokeswoman for Georgia Transmission Corp., the construction arm for electrical membership corporations throughout the state, said Twiggs' bill "addresses the main concern we've heard all over the state. It provides oversight by an elected body, which is the Public Service Commission."

Jim Presswood, a lawyer with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, also criticized the bill, calling the approval process a "rubber stamp." Presswood said legislation supported by HOPE, which has failed to make it through the House Judiciary Committee, would require power companies to consider other options if the state Environmental Protection Division concluded such alternatives were available.

Power line opponents said they doubt any changes will be made to Twiggs' legislation, saying they can't overcome the influence power companies wield. They cited Lucas' actions in the closing moments of the committee meeting as evidence.

After the vote, Lucas pulled out a map to show power company officials where power-generating plants are needed in his district. Lucas said the plants would help lure industry.

Lucas said after the meeting there was nothing wrong with what he did. "That's the way the game is played," he said.