This is a defining moment! We can prepare now to build upon the momentum that area high school and college students are creating for clean energy in Georgia!

Georgia Tech student, Lily Mae Barcik, advocates for clean renewable energy on Jan 16, 2024

On January 16 and 17, the Georgia Public Service Commission held its first set of public hearings over Georgia Power's surprise, off cycle request for more energy sourcing. Georgia Power executives presented their case for why they should be allowed to add huge amounts of electric capacity - mostly powered by climate-warming fossil fuels - to their system.

17 students from Georgia high schools and colleges - including 8 from Decatur High School - attended the hearings to make public comments. They stated that Georgia Power's request "ignores the worldwide scientific community’s urgent call for a rapid phase down of fossil fuels and a transition to clean and renewable energy." The students then presented a compelling case for why the Commissioners should instead require Georgia Power to meet any additional energy demand with renewable energy resources: more large-scale and rooftop solar, wind energy and programs that incentivize customers to use less power. 

Kudos to these students for their efforts! They responded to the urgency of the moment and took action. They spoke truth to power. As Commissioner Echols said, it was "a brave thing" for them to do.

And they spoke to exactly the right people. Most people don't realize that it is the duty of our 5 elected Georgia Public Service Commissioners to regulate Georgia Power, which has monopoly power to provide electricity to almost all of Georgia, and require them to provide us with safe electricity. As DHS Senior Evelyn Ford said in the closing comments, "You can help get Georgia Power to take the right actions in the essential time frame. Actually, you're the only 5 people in Georgia who can. Cities and counties across the state are committing to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, investing money and energy to do so. But they don’t have the authority to make Georgia Power provide them with the clean electricity that is essential for reaching those goals. You do."

DHS Senior Evelyn Ford making closing comments on January 17.

The rest of us must now respond to the urgency of the moment. We can make a difference if we act together! We have a very recent example of how people across the nation successfully organized to call for action to prevent the massive and rapid buildup of liquified natural gas infrastructure. (Yay! As of January 26, there is a pause for climate impact review!) But getting Georgia Power to do the right thing is up to people in our state. The 5 Georgia Public Service Commissioners are elected statewide. As their constituents, we can request meetings with them, we can ask for responses to emails that we send them, and we can make comments on public hearing days.

In mid February, we will provide you with information about how you can take action before or during the next set of hearings on February 29 and March 1.

Get more informed now!

Please read the comments made by the students during the first set of hearings at this link. They used facts and science to make their case, and their comments are clear, concise, direct and powerful. Reading these comments will take you about 15-20 minutes and will prepare you to take action.

This is a defining moment. Georgia Power can become a shining example for other utilities to follow, but this will only happen if enough people call upon our Georgia Public Service Commissioners to require Georgia Power to listen to the worldwide scientific community and make large investments in renewable energy sourcing now.

Borrowing from the refrain of the students as they made comments to the Commissioners: "You must act now. Later is too late."

The 11 students who made public comments on January 16.

The 6 students who made public comments on January 17.