Tim G. Echols is an elected official originally from Clayton County, Georgia, who was elected to the Athens-area seat on the Georgia Public Service Commission as a Republican in 2010. He is author of the book "Real Citizenship." Echols founded Family Resource Network, a non-profit firm that helps young families be successful in infant care and parenting. In 1993, Echols created TeenPact to help young people understand state government and public policy.
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Family
Echols is married to Windy Davis Echols and they have 7 children.
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Political career
Echols served on Governor Sonny Perdue's office of Children and Families for 5 years. He was treasurer and spokesperson for U.S. representative Paul Broun. In 2009, Echols was campaign manager and senior policy advisor for Republican gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine, who lost the Republican primary to Nathan Deal.
In 2010, the 50-year-old Echols won against Democratic candidate Keith Moffett to become a public service commissioner for Georgia after first defeating Republicans Jeff May and Joey Brush in the Primary, and then John Douglas in the Primary run-off. The Georgia Public Service Commission is responsible for helping set electricity and gas rates for consumers as well as regulating pipeline safety.
In December 2016, Echols won re-election to another six-year term as a commissioner. In his campaign, he promised to keep electric rates low and support renewable energy development throughout Georgia. His second term begins on January 1, 2017. Commission Chairman Chuck Eaton said, "Tim is a hard-working commissioner who serves the people of Georgia well."
Political positions
Echols was the architect of the "go/no-go" vote to move forward on Plant Vogtle on December 21st, 2017.
Echols supports diversity in the energy sources. He believes that hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has given the US a competitive edge in energy production. He has expressed pride that Georgia has begun construction on a nuclear power plant. Additionally, he has expressed opposition to proposed EPA regulations regarding coal usage.
Echols has been very outspoken for the responsible disposition of nuclear waste suggesting that recycling is the best option. He also believes that the entire process could be privatized.
Echols has written about the top five energy issues facing Georgia.
During the campaign for office, Echols opposed SB31, a 2008 bill by state lawmakers allowing Georgia Power to collect the finance costs for building a new nuclear power plant from its customers before construction is finished. Additionally, Echols has encouraged the recycling of nuclear waste sitting at over 50 plant sites in the United States. This includes the completion of the Mixed Oxide Fuel facility at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, SC. Echols believes that the French methodology of getting the waste off the plant site and in a safer location is preferable.
Echols is a strong supporter of energy efficiency and he and his family are on a "time of use" plan with their electric plan. He says that they turn their AC units off from 3pm to 8pm each summer day in order to maximize the savings.
Echols weighed in on the electric car tax credit issue making a case in both the Atlanta Journal and Creative Loafing for the benefits EVs provide to Georgia.
Controversies
Echols supports the reprocessing of nuclear material and opined on the topic in the Washington Times.
Echols upon election bought a natural gas-powered car and installed a solar water heater at his house in Winterville, GA causing some to wonder why a Republican was being so progressive. Echols justified the purchases as both economically efficient and environmentally prudent in stating, "compressed natural gas costs about $1 per gallon, a third of the price of gasoline, and is virtually pollution-free. The solar water heater was $6,000, but federal and state tax credits offset half the cost, and the device will pay for itself in 10 years."
In 2011, Echols, as Commission Transportation Chair, working with the Georgia Public Safety Department to set up a sting on rogue/unsafe limo services under his jurisdiction, used official Georgia Public Service Commission letterhead to request two tickets to the practice round of the Masters Golf Tournament more than 11 months after entries to the ticket lottery were due. Echols contended the request was in furtherance of his pursuance of rogue bus and limo companies who were operating without being registered. Echols eventually conceded that he "should not have sent the letter regarding the Masters tickets because it gives the appearance of impropriety."
In early 2014, Echols weighed in on the Georgia Right to Life controversy supporting Dan Becker and GRTL's leadership.
In 2014, Echols criticized the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for the adverse impact of their new "Clean Power Plan" on the state of Georgia.
References
External links
- Tim Echols website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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