Strategies helps businesses and individuals solve the complexities of dealing with the government at every level. Our team of specialists concentrate exclusively on government affairs, representing clients nationwide who need assistance with public policy, advocacy, and government relations strategies.
This unique program provides innovative and affordable opportunities to startups and early-stage emerging companies with a solid technology or scientific foundation. We help companies that have a quality management team in place and do not have other significant legal representation.
eMerge’s lawyers and technologists work together to deliver strategic end-to-end eDiscovery and data management solutions for litigation, investigations, due diligence, and compliance matters. We help clients discover the information necessary to resolve disputes, respond to investigations, conduct due diligence, and comply with legal requirements.
Steve Hewitson, a partner in Troutman Pepper’s state energy regulation group, is quoted in the E&E News article, “PURPA Fight Could Sway Solar’s Future in GA.”
“If the restudy is not done, the required network upgrades are not completed, then the integrity of the system is put at risk,” said Steven Hewitson, an attorney from Troutman Pepper, which represents Georgia Power. “That is simply not a risk that Georgia Power is willing to take for its customers.”
…
“It doesn’t seem fair to ask [Georgia Power] customers to absorb more costs so that developers can generate more revenue at the end of the [long-term] agreement,” said Hewitson, the attorney representing the utility.
For Georgia Power’s part, the original engineering study is done to coincide with the length of the long-term agreement, “no less but also no more,” Hewitson said. The electric company does not make upgrades to the power grid as if the solar system would be delivering power after that because the decision to do so would be up to the developer, he said.
To do so “could lead to overplanning the system, overbuilding the system, and result in costly upgrades that were never needed,” Hewitson said.
PSC Vice Chair Tim Echols, a Republican, asked Hewitson whether he thought the argument from the solar companies was a legitimate one.
“That the companies weren’t expecting this, and now this is something that’s going to affect their project, strand their project, do you think that’s fair?” Echols asked.
Hewitson said the solar developer never asked the question.
“I understand their point … that they didn’t consider this an issue,” he said. “But it wasn’t Georgia Power’s [responsibility] to say, ‘What are you going to do with this?'”
Sponsored Events
Venture Idol 2026
May 7, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
Ben Franklin TechVentures
116 Research Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Sponsored Events
New Hampshire Government Finance Officers Association Annual Conference
May 7 – 8, 2026
Grappone Conference Center
Concord, NH
Speaking Engagements
Mortgage Bankers Association Legal Issues and Regulatory Compliance Conference
May 4 – 7, 2026
Intercontinental Hotel
100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, FL 33131
Speaking Engagements
Epiq Mass & Class 2026
April 30, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Kiawah Island Golf Resort
1 Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455
