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Tim Echols

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Tim Echols
Tim speaking at Olli at the University of Georgia
Preceded byRobert Baker
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
SpouseWindy Echols

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.[1] He is author of the book “Real Citizenship."[2] Echols founded Family Resource Network, a non-profit firm that helps young families be successful in infant care and parenting.[3] In 1993, Echols created TeenPact to help young people understand state government and public policy.[4]

Family

Echols is married to Windy Davis Echols and they have 7 children.[5]

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.[6] In 2009, Echols was campaign manager and senior policy advisor for Republican gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine, who lost the Republican primary to Nathan Deal.[7]

In 2010, the 50-year-old Echols won against Democratic candidate Keith Moffett[8] to become a public service commissioner for Georgia after first defeating Republicans Jeff May and Joey Brush in the Primary,[9] and then John Douglas in the Primary run-off.[10] The Georgia Public Service Commission is responsible for helping set electricity and gas rates for consumers as well as regulating pipeline safety.

Political positions

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.[11][12]

Echols has been very outspoken for the responsible disposition of nuclear waste suggesting that recycling is the best option.[13] He also believes that the entire process could be privatized.[14]

Echols has written about the top five energy issues facing Georgia.[15]

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.[16] This includes the completion of the Mixed Oxide Fuel facility at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, SC.[17] 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.[18]

Echols weighed in on the electric car tax credit issue making a case in both the Atlanta Journal [19] and Creative Loafing for the benefits EVs provide to Georgia.[20]

Controversies

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." [10]

In 2011, Echols 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. [21] Echols contended the request was in furtherance of his pursuance of rogue bus and limo companies who were operating without being registered.[22] Echols eventually conceded that he "should not have sent the letter regarding the Masters tickets because it gives the appearance of impropriety.” [23]

In early 2014, Echols weighed in on the Georgia Right to Life controversy supporting Dan Becker and GRTL's leadership.[24]

In 2014, Echols criticized the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for the adverse impact of their new "Clean Power Plan" on the state of Georgia.[25]

References

  1. ^ Henry, Ray (November 2, 2010). "GOP's Echols elected to Ga. utility commission". Washington Examiner.
  2. ^ Real Citizenship.
  3. ^ "Family Resource Network".
  4. ^ "TeenPact Leadership Schools  » Meet the Founder".
  5. ^ "Georgia Public Service Commission".
  6. ^ http://onlineathens.com/stories/011009/new_375747501.shtml
  7. ^ Walter C. Jones. "PSC contest pits political aides against one another".
  8. ^ RAY HENRY. "Georgia commissioners: Locals Echols and Hudgens part of Republican clean sweep".
  9. ^ "District 2 commission race heads to runoff". savannahnow.com.
  10. ^ a b http://onlineathens.com/stories/010411/new_765035733.shtml
  11. ^ http://cms.psc.state.ga.us/site/assets/files/1450/echols_abc_op-ed_6-27-14_epa_regs_will_hurt_business_and_consumers.pdf
  12. ^ http://cms.psc.state.ga.us/site/assets/files/1159/scanpic1.jpg
  13. ^ http://dailysignal.com/2012/02/06/georgia-commissioner-seeks-reforms-for-nuclear-waste-management/
  14. ^ "Echols: Privatize Nuclear Waste Disposal". Georgia Public Broadcasting.
  15. ^ http://cms.psc.state.ga.us/site/assets/files/1578/echols_james0001.pdf
  16. ^ "A New Year's resolution on recycling". Atlanta Business Chronicle. January 2, 2015.
  17. ^ "Viewpoint: Turning old bombs into carbon-free electricity". Atlanta Business Chronicle. October 21, 2014.
  18. ^ Jonathan Shapiro. "Energy Efficiency Experts Say Georgia Needs Broader Transition".
  19. ^ http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2015/01/13/a-duel-over-electric-vehicle-tax-credits-twixt-tim-echols-and-chuck-martin/
  20. ^ http://clatl.com/atlanta/how-the-electric-vehicle-rode-public-subsidies-into-the-mainstream/Content?oid=13336428
  21. ^ "State utility commissioner's pursuit of Masters tickets improper, critics say". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  22. ^ "Tim Echols' plans deserve clarification". The Augusta Chronicle.
  23. ^ http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/state-utility-commissioners-pursuit-of-masters-tic/nQK8q/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. ^ "A surprise bid to undercut the clout of Georgia Right to Life - Political Insider blog".
  25. ^ "Viewpoint: Our expensive energy diet". Atlanta Business Chronicle. December 8, 2014.
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