There is now extensive academic and policy literature on pressures to rethink prevailing logics of energy governance in response to a range of, challenges and opportunities from factors including, carbon reduction, concerns about the security of imported oil and gas, the exploitation of new fuel reserves, continued opposition to nuclear energy and new agendas of decentralised energy generation.
Decarbonisation is a key element of those debates about a new energy governance reflecting the influence of carbon policy in the present and the future. The new energy governance is affecting many countries. This thesis focuses on the changing context for energy governance, and especially electricity generation and supply in the USA. Electricity generation is selected as the primary focus in order to explore factors such as new models of decentralised energy generation.
The thesis presents an in-depth case study of the state of Georgia, and especially the changing strategies for the state energy provider, Georgia Power in response to changing economic and environmental imperatives in electricity generation and supply and lobbying from a range of key stakeholders. The case study is based on 25 interviews with key stakeholders, including Georgia Power officials, state energy regulators (public service commissioners), federal, regional and state agency representatives, industrial associations, clean energy businesses, environmental and consumer advocates and political organisations. The case study focuses on a range of key issues that mark tensions in the transition from the prevailing mode of energy governance, notably developing federal regulations, pressure for decentralisation and new nuclear development.
The thesis makes a number of key contributions to literature and debate on energy governance. By providing in-depth investigation of a context for energy transition/new energy governance that has not previously been researched, revealing new bottom up coalitions for decentralised supply and the importance of electricity pricing in influencing policy decisions.
