Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HR67 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 112 2647
2	2	House Resolution 67
3	3	By: Representatives Schofield of the 63
4	4	rd
5	5	, Stephens of the 164
6	6	th
7	7	, Davis of the 87
8	8	th
9	9	, Drenner
10	10	of the 85
11	11	th
12	12	, McClain of the 109
13	13	th
14	14	, and others
15	15	A RESOLUTION
16	16	Supporting Georgia's Clean Energy Transition, Workforce Development, and Green Job
17	17	1
18	18	Creation by 2050; and for other purposes.2
19	19	WHEREAS, thirteen federal agencies, including NASA, the Department of Defense, and the3
20	20	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, contributed to the Fourth National4
21	21	Climate Assessment, which was completed in November 2018; the report found that climate5
22	22	change will threaten Georgia and the Southeast with increased temperatures, drought, and6
23	23	extreme weather and that Georgia's coast will be threatened by flooding, sea-level rise, and7
24	24	stronger and more frequent hurricanes; and8
25	25	WHEREAS, studies completed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Risky9
26	26	Business Project, Duke University, and others point to the severe economic costs of climate10
27	27	change and the continued use of fossil fuels, estimating billions of dollars nationally and11
28	28	trillions globally in costs each year; and12
29	29	WHEREAS, communities of color and people with lower incomes in Georgia and the United13
30	30	States are inordinately exposed to pollution from fossil fuels, including the dirtiest coal-fired14
31	31	H. R. 67
32	32	- 1 - 25 LC 112 2647
33	33	power plants that produce coal ash, which disproportionately affects communities of color
34	34	15
35	35	and causes serious health problems such as cancer and asthma; and16
36	36	WHEREAS, Georgia households with incomes below 50 percent of the federal poverty level17
37	37	pay 41 percent of their annual income in home energy costs, and Georgia is the eighth most18
38	38	energy-expensive state in the United States; and19
39	39	WHEREAS, the "energy burden," or percentage of household income spent on energy bills,20
40	40	is a crippling financial burden for families with lower incomes, and the energy burden on21
41	41	African American and Latino households with lower incomes is up to three times as high as22
42	42	other households; and23
43	43	WHEREAS, transitioning to clean energy represents an unprecedented opportunity to address24
44	44	environmental justice issues while reducing energy burdens for vulnerable populations; and25
45	45	WHEREAS, leading economists, policy experts, and business leaders conclude that a26
46	46	transition to a clean energy economy available for all would create millions of green jobs27
47	47	nationally, improve our living standards, and boost economic growth in coming years; and28
48	48	WHEREAS, Georgia's future competitiveness depends on leveraging the clean energy29
49	49	economy to uplift employment equity and create a future where any Georgian who wants to30
50	50	work can find a good job that pays family-supporting wages; with full employment for all,31
51	51	Georgia could grow economic output by $12 billion every year; and32
52	52	H. R. 67
53	53	- 2 - 25 LC 112 2647
54	54	WHEREAS, investments in clean energy infrastructure, such as wind, solar, and energy
55	55	33
56	56	efficiency, provide long-term economic savings and stimulate local economies through job34
57	57	creation and development opportunities; and35
58	58	WHEREAS, a just transition to clean energy must include workforce development programs36
59	59	that ensure workers in Georgia have access to the skills, training, and resources needed to fill37
60	60	new green jobs in sectors such as renewable energy production, energy efficiency, and38
61	61	electric vehicle infrastructure; and39
62	62	WHEREAS, workforce development initiatives must prioritize communities40
63	63	disproportionately impacted by climate change, pollution, and economic dislocation, ensuring41
64	64	inclusive opportunities for education, apprenticeships, and re-skilling programs; and42
65	65	WHEREAS, Georgia can leverage partnerships with technical colleges, universities, labor43
66	66	unions, and industry leaders to build a pipeline of skilled workers who are prepared for the44
67	67	demands of the clean energy economy; and45
68	68	WHEREAS, numerous cities, including Atlanta, Savannah, and Athens; multiple universities;46
69	69	and businesses around Georgia have adopted or are considering commitments to transition47
70	70	to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2050; and48
71	71	WHEREAS, solar energy in Georgia has seen enormous growth in the past ten years, and49
72	72	Georgia now has more than 2,600 MW of solar capacity installed, which is enough to power50
73	73	312,450 homes and rank Georgia as a top ten state for solar energy; and51
74	74	H. R. 67
75	75	- 3 - 25 LC 112 2647
76	76	WHEREAS, the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic include Georgia ranking
77	77	52
78	78	as second highest in the nation for the number of clean energy jobs lost, but a recovery period53
79	79	with a clean energy focus could revitalize our economy and put Georgians back to work; and54
80	80	WHEREAS, Georgia Power's parent company, Southern Company, has publicly committed55
81	81	to owning a low to zero carbon generation fleet by 2050; and56
82	82	WHEREAS, global warming is contributing to an increased incidence of extreme weather,57
83	83	and stronger storms are already having a huge impact on Georgia—Georgia's Department58
84	84	of Agriculture has estimated that Hurricane Michael resulted in losses totaling $3 billion in59
85	85	2018; and60
86	86	WHEREAS, corporate entities operating in Georgia, including Bank of America, Ikea,61
87	87	Google, T-Mobile, and Walmart, have made commitments to purchasing 100 percent clean62
88	88	energy on a variety of timelines; and63
89	89	WHEREAS, adopting energy-efficient policies and incentivizing the use of electric vehicles64
90	90	and renewable energy sources in Georgia can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions65
91	91	while promoting innovation and technological advancements.66
92	92	NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that67
93	93	the members of this body support the transition from fossil fuels to 100 percent safe, clean,68
94	94	renewable, and equitable energy for all energy sector economies in the State of Georgia by69
95	95	December 31, 2050, to promote job creation, workforce development, and economic growth70
96	96	and to protect the earth from climate catastrophe for current and future generations.71
97	97	H. R. 67
98	98	- 4 - 25 LC 112 2647
99	99	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
100	100	72
101	101	and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the73
102	102	public and the press.74
103	103	H. R. 67
104	104	- 5 -