House energy subcommittee backs allowing GEFA loans to bury power lines, expands authority language

The House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications subcommittee voted 5-3 to send a committee substitute for Senate Bill 13 (LC 49 23 42 S) to the full committee with a “due pass” recommendation after amending the bill to add language allowing the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to make loans for converting above-ground electrical lines to underground as part of grid-hardening efforts.

Leader Evstration, who presented the committee substitute, said the change adds language “which would allow for GEFA, in circumstances for the purposes of conversion of electrical lines from above ground lines to underground lines,” and would permit GEFA to issue loans when local governments undertake grid-hardening projects.

The amendment inserts the conversion language in two places (noted in the substitute as lines 44–45 and again at 54–55) and leaves the allocation and…