By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) announced that it had unanimously approved two small business incentives to strengthen and grow the Alabama economy by encouraging investments and creating jobs.
PSC President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (R) President of the Public Service Commission said, “Alabamians can rest assured that I will continue to do what I have done throughout my tenure at the Public Service Commission – fight for you and against the federal government’s relentless assault on our economy. President Reagan was right when he said, ‘Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.’”
Commissioner Jeremy H. Oden (R) stated, “Small Business is a cornerstone to the American dream. One of my top priorities has always been to protect and promote small business and help provide every man or woman with the opportunity to achieve that dream. I was proud to vote today for incentives that will assist small business in today’s political climate.”
Additionally, Commissioner Chris “Chip” Beeker, Jr. (R) said, “The two incentives we approved today will benefit small business owners who take the risks necessary for job creation and retention. I am hopeful that our actions will work to counter the federal regulations that increasingly punish those individuals who serve as the backbone of our economy.”
The commissioners said in their joint statement that, “The greatest challenges facing small businesses are the overly-burdensome governmental red tape and mandates coming from Washington, DC.”
The Commissioners announced that they intend to help the economy by offering the two incentives: the Community Redevelopment Incentive (“CRI”) and the Economic Development Incentive (“EDI”) for new and expanding Alabama Power customers. The CRI provides a one-year incentive for customers that establish a new account for an existing building that has been unoccupied for at least six (6) months. The EDI provides a two-year incentive for new or expanding customers meeting criteria related to additional incremental load. The commissioner claim that because these incentives will increase the number of Alabama Power customers, they will also put downward pressure on the rates of all customers.
The commissioners said that they will continue to make every effort to minimize the impact that federal regulations have on Alabama businesses and maximize its conservative pro-growth and pro-Alabama agenda.
PSC President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh is seeking a second term as PSC President. Former PSC Commissioner Terry Dunn (R) has announced that he is challenging Cavanaugh for the Presidency of the PSC in the 2016 Republican Primary on March 1.
