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Alabama solar fee lawsuit moves forward in federal court

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Alabama solar fee lawsuit moves forward in federal court


A federal lawsuit challenging the fees levied on people who install solar panels on their homes will move forward, after a judge in Montgomery denied a motion to dismiss the case.

“Solar energy offers a unique opportunity for residents of Alabama to take control of their energy costs, reduce their carbon footprints, and contribute to a cleaner environment,” said Madison Naves, communications coordinator with GASP, one of the plaintiffs. “Unfortunately, however, the Alabama Public Service Commission has signed off on Alabama Power’s punitive charges that are stifling the growth of rooftop solar across Alabama Power’s territory.”

In 2021, plaintiffs, including the environmental group GASP, sued the Alabama Public Service Commission in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. Alabama Power later joined the case as an intervenor defendant.

The plaintiffs argued that the PSC violated federal energy laws by allowing Alabama Power to charge fees to people who use solar panels.

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Alabama Power and the PSC had asked for the case to be dismissed, arguing that the court did not have jurisdiction and that the plaintiffs did not make a claim for which relief can be granted.

But U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson ruled against the defendants on Monday, arguing that the court does have standing to adjudicate claims made under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), a federal law designed to encourage renewable energy use.

“This case is about alleged price discrimination against small-scale solar-power production in Alabama. But the merits of that issue are not the focus of this opinion,” Thompson wrote in his opinion. “Based on the well-pleaded allegations in the complaint, the court currently finds that it has jurisdiction over the plaintiffs’ three claims under PURPA.”

A representative for the PSC declined to comment. A representative for Alabama Power did not respond to a request for comment.

Alabama Power customers who use solar panels—or any other type of additional, non-emergency power generating source—are charged a fee based on the capacity of their system. The utility previously told AL.com that this fee is necessary to cover the cost of providing backup power to those customers.

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But the plaintiffs argue that these fees are discriminatory and unfair, and that they’ve discouraged solar panel use in Alabama.

“As a result, Alabama, despite its abundance of sunshine, lags almost every other state in the U.S. in customer-sited solar deployment,” the plaintiffs said in an amended legal filing in 2023.

In 2020, the PSC allowed Alabama Power to continue charging the “solar fee” and approved an increase from $5 per kilowatt per month to $5.41 per kilowatt per month. The plaintiffs then appealed to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to end the fee. FERC declined to act in 2021, allowing plaintiffs to sue.

Alabama lags behind some neighboring states in solar power use. As of the second quarter of 2024, 0.85% of the state’s electricity is generated from solar power, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. In Georgia, 6.21% of the state’s electricity is generated from solar, and in Florida, 7.65% of the state’s electricity is solar.

The Southern Environmental Law Center represents GASP, as well as plaintiffs Mark Johnston and Teresa Thorne. The other two plaintiffs, James Bankston and Ralph Pfeiffer, are represented by Birmingham law firm Ragsdale, LLC. An attorney for Bankston and Pfeiffer did not respond to a request for comment.

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Alabama Power is represented by Balch & Bingham.



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Alabama Trending Towards Securing Commitment from Elite Recruit

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Alabama Trending Towards Securing Commitment from Elite Recruit


Nothing is set in stone just yet, but it’s looking like Alabama is going to build on its trenches.

According to On3 / Rivals’ National Recruiting Reporter Sam Spiegelman, the Crimson Tide are trending toward receiving a commitment from four-star 2027 interior offensive lineman Ismael Camara.

Should Alabama nab the talented recruit out of Gilmer, TX, it would be the second high-ranked interior lineman of the 2027 class.

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Earlier this season, the Crimson Tide had secured a commitment from Jatori Williams, the four-star lineman out of Phenix City, AL, and one who is the fifth ranked player at his position in the country.

Camara spoke with Spiegelman and revealed that he, along with 20 other recruits will be in Tuscaloosa for the LSU game – a game that holds such importance.

Not only that, he spoke on the relationship that he holds with offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic, and how that relationship resonates with him.

“Coach Kap told me two things when we first talked — he has the best job in the world and that all the things he wants from his players are passion, a good attitude, maximum effort, being a good teammate, being prepared and available, and being coachable. That requires zero talent.”

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He then went on to say how much the persistence in maintaining that relationship is something that he will always hold onto.

“I appreciate him investing in me like that, and I am trying to get better to live up to the standard at ‘Bama.”

The “Standard” is a real thing, and it’s not something that the brass take lightly. Nick Saban spent 17 seasons implementing a culture of greatness and players that have the dog in them to be great.

So Kalen DeBoer and his staff don’t want to lose sight of it. It may have been in question for a little, but for the time being, what you’re seeing is what you’re getting.

But the “Standard” is something that means a lot to Camara too, and it’s what has set apart Alabama from other schools.

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“When we got into the facility and saw all the nattys, the SEC championships and Heisman Trophies, I really had the butterflies,” Camara said. “The way they treated each other and the way they treated me — it was not just an honor for me to be there, it was an honor for them to be there. They practiced like that. They operated like that. They hung together like that. That was when I really started to understand what makes Alabama ‘Bama,’”

Aside from it being a big game on the schedule, it’s a big game for the coaches take make sure the people they’re bringing in for the future know that the staff’s future is just the beginning for these young men.



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Alabama man charged with threatening synagogues, mosques

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Alabama man charged with threatening synagogues, mosques


A Needham, Alabama man has been charged by federal prosecutors with making threats to rabbis and imams across the South.

Jeremy Wayne Shoemaker faces a charge of an interstate communications threat after investigators say he made multiple threatening calls and messages to Jewish and Muslim religious leaders.

The threats were made to rabbis in Alabama and Louisiana, an imam in Georgia, a church in North Carolina and more.

According to court documents, agents discovered multiple firearms in Shoemaker’s home as well as a suitcase containing ammunition and papers listing the names, addresses and phone numbers of religious leaders and other prominent figures.

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Shoemaker told agents he did not intend to carry out an attack, but engage in “psychological warfare.” 

An FBI agent attested that Shoemaker came to the department’s attention after making a series of threats including to a Mountain Brook rabbi earlier this month.

“I want you to die because you want the death of us,” Shoemaker said during one call. “You want the West to die off.”

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The FBI agent also noted a 2024 threat from Shoemaker to an Islamic center in Louisiana, and a threatening message to a Georgia imam earlier this year.

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama — and frontrunner for Alabama’s next governor — has recently drawn attention to the Muslim community, calling “radical Islam and Sharia Law … the greatest national security threat facing the United States.”

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He also called Islam “fundamentally incompatible with our Western values.”

“So, wake up America. The Quran instructs Islamists to fight Jews and Christians, along with anyone else who doesn’t believe in Allah,” Tuberville said. “Simply put, Radical Islam teaches that it is righteous to kill Christians—[that] it’s righteous. There is no peaceful coexistence with this type of people. None.”



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How to Watch Alabama vs North Dakota: Live Stream NCAA College Basketball, TV Channel

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How to Watch Alabama vs North Dakota: Live Stream NCAA College Basketball, TV Channel


The Alabama Crimson Tide will face the North Dakota Fighting Hawks in this college basketball matchup on Monday at Coleman Coliseum, and you can catch all the action with ESPN Unlimited.

How to Watch Alabama vs North Dakota

  • Date: Monday, November 3, 2025
  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • Channel: SEC Network+
  • Stream: ESPN Unlimited (watch now)

The Alabama Crimson Tide tip off the 2025‑26 season with plenty of momentum and transition under coach Nate Oats. After making a deep NCAA Tournament run last year, the Tide reload with young lead guard Labaron Philon Jr. stepping into a starring role and rising forward Keitenn Bristow bringing hype on the front line. Alabama’s roster also adds size and versatility through transfers like Noah Williamson, while returning shooters and athletes across the lineup support Oats’ up‑tempo, high‑spacing system. With their core freshened and expectations still high in the SEC, the key question is: can they take the next step and turn deep-tournament potential into a title-contending run?

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks enter the 2025‑26 season with a blend of rebuilding and hope under seventh‑year head coach Paul Sather. Fresh off a 12‑21 season (5‑11 in the Summit League), they’ll lean heavily on senior guard Eli King for leadership while integrating seven newcomers into the rotation. The schedule opens with a tough road game at Alabama Crimson Tide, setting the tone early for a season shaped by growth more than expectation. With only one returning starter, chemistry will take time—but if the freshmen acclimate and the Hawks tighten defensively, they could surprise in Summit League play.

This is a great college basketball matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.

Live stream Alabama vs North Dakota on SEC Network+ with ESPN Unlimited: Start your subscription now!

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