Georgia HR 807: State goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050; support

Bill Text

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House Resolution 807
By: Representatives Schofield of the 63
rd, Davis of the 87
th, Evans of the 89
th, Buckner of the
137
th, and Scott of the 76
th
A RESOLUTION
Supporting a state goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050, the creation of thriving-wage1
green jobs, and an equitable clean energy transition; and for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, thirteen federal agencies, including NASA, the Department of Defense, and the3
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, contributed to the Fourth National4
Climate Assessment, which was completed in November 2018; the report found that climate5
change will threaten Georgia and the Southeast with increased temperatures, drought, and6
extreme weather and that Georgia's coast will be threatened by flooding, sea-level rise, and7
stronger and more frequent hurricanes; and8
WHEREAS, studies completed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Risky9
Business Project, Duke University, and others point to the severe economic costs of climate10
change and the continued use of fossil fuels, estimating billions of dollars nationally and11
trillions globally in costs each year; and12
WHEREAS, communities of color and people with lower incomes in Georgia and the United13
States are inordinately exposed to pollution from fossil fuels, including the dirtiest coal-fired14
power plants that produce coal ash, which disproportionately affects communities of color15
and causes serious health problems such as cancer and asthma; and16
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WHEREAS, Georgia households with incomes below 50 percent of the federal poverty level17
pay 41 percent of their annual income in home energy costs, and Georgia is the eighth most18
energy-expensive state in the United States; and19
WHEREAS, the "energy burden," or percentage of household income spent on energy bills,20
is a crippling financial burden for families with lower incomes, and the energy burden on21
African-American and Latino households with lower incomes is up to three times as high as22
other households; and23
WHEREAS, leading economists, policy experts, and business leaders conclude that a24
transition to a clean energy economy available for all would create millions of green jobs25
nationally, improve our living standards, and boost economic growth in coming years; and26
WHEREAS, Georgia's future competitiveness depends on leveraging the clean energy27
economy to uplift employment equity and create a future where any Georgian who wants to28
work can find a good job that pays family-supporting wages; with full employment for all,29
Georgia could grow economic output by $12 billion every year; and30
WHEREAS, numerous cities, including Atlanta, Savannah, and Athens; multiple31
universities; and businesses around Georgia have adopted or are considering commitments32
to transition to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2035; and33
WHEREAS, solar energy in Georgia has seen enormous growth in the past ten years, and34
Georgia now has more than 2600 MW of solar capacity installed, which is enough to power35
312,450 homes and rank Georgia as a top ten state for solar energy; and36
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WHEREAS, the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic include Georgia ranking37
as second highest in the nation for the number of clean energy jobs lost, but a recovery period38
with a clean energy focus could revitalize our economy and put Georgians back to work; and39
WHEREAS, Georgia Power's parent company, Southern Company, has publicly committed40
to owning a low to zero carbon generation fleet by 2050; and41
WHEREAS, global warming is contributing to an increased incidence of extreme weather,42
and stronger storms are already having a huge impact on Georgia—Georgia's Department43
of Agriculture has estimated that Hurricane Michael resulted in losses totaling $3 billion in44
2018; and45
WHEREAS, corporate entities operating in Georgia, including Bank of America, Ikea,46
Google, T-Mobile, and Walmart, have made commitments to purchasing 100 percent clean47
energy on a variety of timelines.48
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that49
the members of this body support the transition from fossil fuels to 100 percent safe, clean,50
renewable, and equitable energy for all energy sector economies in the State of Georgia by51
December 31, 2050, to promote job creation and economic growth and to protect the earth52
from climate catastrophe for current and future generations.53
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized54
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the55
public and the press.56
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