Current Campaigns

Clean Energy for America

Right now, the United States and Georgia fail to take advantage of our almost unlimited potential to generate electricity from renewable sources of energy like wind biomass and solar power.

In order to put our country on the right track for a clean energy future we need to reduce our energy consumption by 10 percent nationally and get 25 percent of our electricity from clean, renewable sources.

To achieve these goals Congress must:
•    Extend the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit before clean energy jobs are lost and emerging industries are stifled.
•    Pass a renewable electricity standard to get 20 percent of our energy from clean, renewable sources by 2020.
•    Ensure that large investments in clean, homegrown energy are part of any global warming bill and that future annual spending bills increase support for these important programs.

Clean Energy for Georgia

In early 2008 a coalition of utilities announced plans to build a 800 MW coal-fired power plant in Washington County, near Macon, GA. Along with smog and mercury pollution the plant would use 16 million gallons of water per day at its peak and produce 6-7 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, the global warming equivalent of 1 million more cars on the road each year in Georgia.

The plant is also a financial risk. Experts predict global warming regulations will make carbon dioxide an expensive by product. It could increase the costs of the Washington County coal plant by hundreds of millions of dollars. The reality is solutions like energy efficiency will cost less and create more jobs for our local economy.

States like Texas and Kentucky are saying ‘no’ to more coal-fired power and pollution but only because citizens are standing up and demanding a cleaner, cooler and cheaper energy future. With your help we can demand that our leaders in Georgia and Washington DC invest in clean energy and not coal in Georgia. 

Clean-up Georgia Power

Georgia Power, our state’s largest, privately-owned, energy provider, recently unveiled their long-term energy plan which prioritized dirty energy sources as opposed to clean and renewable sources. To learn more read our testimony here.

Pine 2 Energy 

Georgia has tremendous untapped potential for renewable energy and fuel made out of one of our state's most abundant crops--pine trees. Read more about our work to promote biopower in Georgia here.  

Brief Summary

There’s no question that America has the technological know-how to dramatically reduce our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels. We can make cars that go 100 miles on a gallon of gas. Solar panels and wind turbines can supply power to millions of homes and businesses. We can make high-performance products and buildings that use a fraction of the energy we use today. We’re asking citizens to join us in calling on candidates to endorse a bold and sensible plan to move America toward a new energy future. 

It’s time for a new energy future

For decades, government policy favored the oil industry and other powerful energy interests over energy conservation and emerging renewable energy technologies. But now there’s momentum for change. With gas prices fluctuating between $3.50 and more than $4 per gallon, Americans are demanding cars that get better mileage. A June 2006 poll found 79 percent favor standards of at least 40 miles per gallon. With the effects of global warming showing up in our own back yards, 82 percent of Americans support increasing renewable energy. Even President Bush admits that America is “addicted to oil,” and many in Congress are reconsidering their positions on energy conservation and clean energy. But real change will only come when our elected officials are held accountable for concrete actions that can put our country on a new energy path.

Real solutions for our country

We can reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Plug-in hybrid cars that go 100 miles on a gallon of gas already exist. Congress should tell the auto industry to make vehicles that get at least 40 miles per gallon.  And, should support policies that encourage shifting away from oil as a transportation fuel. 

We can harness clean, renewable homegrown energy

The wind that blows over America’s Great Plains could provide enough power for the entire country. Lawmakers should require that 25 percent of our nation’s energy come from clean, renewable sources by 2025.

We can save energy with high-performance homes and businesses.

EnergyStar-certified homes use 30 percent less energy than other homes. Lawmakers should create incentives to reduce the amount of energy we waste so that we can cut our nation’s energy use by at least 10 percent by 2025.

We can invest in a bold, new energy future

By investing more public and private dollars in new energy-saving and renewable technologies, we’ll power our future and make America the world’s clean energy leader.

To learn more about these energy solutions and the benefits they will bring to  Georgia's and America's environment, economy, and national security read Environment Georgia recent report "A New Energy Future."