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Hearing held on bill to let GEFA finance upgrades to small natural gas lines in South Georgia
Summary
At a meeting of the Georgia House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee, Senator Summers presented Senate Bill 13, a measure to allow the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to provide low-interest financing for upgrades to small natural gas distribution lines serving parts of South Georgia.
At a meeting of the Georgia House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee, Senator Summers presented Senate Bill 13, a measure to allow the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to provide low-interest financing for upgrades to small natural gas distribution lines serving parts of South Georgia.
Senator Summers said the existing line is "extremely small," describing it as about "4 inches," and said the pipeline runs from Albany through Ashburn, Turner County, Ocilla and Irwin into Coffee County. "Coffee County is literally out of natural gas," he said, adding the county could add a house or two but "they can't add any industry whatsoever." He said the bill is intended to let GEFA help finance upgrades so the area can continue attracting industry.
Committee members did not pose substantive objections during the hearing. Chairman Martin suggested a subcommittee meeting before the committee's next scheduled session to ensure details are worked out; Senator Summers agreed to appear. The chairman characterized the measure as appearing noncontroversial but said a subcommittee would "make sure everything worked out." No formal committee vote on Senate Bill 13 was recorded at the hearing.
The committee did not adopt or reject the bill at the meeting; staff and members discussed convening a subcommittee to review technical and financing details and to make any needed amendments ahead of the next week's meeting.
Clarifying details recorded during the hearing include the sponsor's description that the existing pipeline is about 4 inches in diameter and that the measure would authorize GEFA to provide low-interest financing for line upgrades. The bill sponsor described the geographic route as Albany eastward through Ashburn, Turner County, Ocilla and Irwin into Coffee County. No dollar amounts, specific loan terms, or statutory citations were provided in the hearing record.
The committee will address Senate Bill 13 again at a later meeting; committee staff indicated they expect to convene a subcommittee this week to review the proposal and return to the full committee with recommended language or amendments.
