Alabama Public Service Commission in the Spotlight Amid GOP Opposition to Solar Power

The Alabama Public Service Commission has suddenly become a focal point as the state prepares for Tuesday’s runoff primaries. The discussions surrounding the commission are intriguing, with data centers and electricity costs at the forefront. A unique southern element has emerged, with solar power being labeled as a new adversary.

Reports from several communities in Alabama, including Wetumpka, Stockton, and De Soto, Georgia, have highlighted the issues of solar energy and data centers influencing the commission elections. Photography by Audra Melton has captured these events.

Jim Zeigler has a notable history in Alabama’s political scene. As a college student in the 1970s, he rallied young voters against Bull Connor, a notorious figure from the civil rights era. Connor had transitioned from his aggressive tactics to a position at the Alabama Public Service Commission, which oversees the state’s water and power utilities. Zeigler played a crucial role in ousting Connor in 1972, later securing a commission seat himself.

Fast forward five decades, and the commission seats are highly sought after due to the national debate over A.I. data centers. In the upcoming Republican runoff, Zeigler, now 78, aims to focus voter attention on data centers, portraying them as the latest adversary. Interestingly, in Alabama, he has also identified solar power and carbon dioxide reduction efforts as threats.

“Alabama is being targeted by huge data centers, solar farms, and carbon capture operations,” Zeigler stated at a recent Elmore County Republican Party gathering. “If anybody tries to sell you on the idea of these data centers and solar farms because of jobs and economic development, tell them that you know better.”

The issue of how solar power relates to data centers draws varied responses. Both Republicans and Democrats share concerns over these massive facilities, apprehensive about their substantial consumption of power and water, resources they believe ordinary citizens struggle to afford. President Trump has specifically targeted solar power and renewable energy.