Georgia Power Company recently published its 2019 electric utility resource plan, which includes projected future costs of different energy generation programs. We submitted comments asking that Georgia Power more clearly quantify and monetize the greenhouse gas emissions of electricity generation alternatives.
The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) reviews electric utility resource plans to determine whether they demonstrate economic and environmental benefits. Its regulations specifically ask that externalities be quantified and expressed in monetary terms where possible. Georgia Power, however, does not gauge the environmental costs or benefits of resource alternatives. Our comments ask the PSC to require that Georgia Power better consider externalities by monetizing its estimates. We recommend valuing the impacts of carbon emissions using the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC). We also point out that a number of states – like Nevada and Colorado – have applied SCC estimates in past resource proceedings.