(Background: Center Co-Director Karen Grainey gave the following two-minute speech at a digital rally organized by Savannah Alderman Nick Palumbo in opposition to HB 150. This bill aims to prevent "governmental entities from adopting any policy that prohibits the connection or reconnection of any utility service based upon the type or source of energy or fuel." The House passed the bill, and it will soon go to the Senate floor for a vote. The term "governmental entities" includes the growing number of cities that have set clean energy targets and all state agencies. Decatur recently joined Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Clarkston, and Savannah in passing a resolution to transition to 100% clean energy.)
There are many good reasons to support clean energy policies, but one reason stands out above the rest- the overheating of the Earth's climate. Nothing else will matter if the nations of the world fail to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. All our aspirations for a more just, equitable, and prosperous society will be crushed under the weight of an impending environmental collapse that will bring hunger, political division, and a societal breakdown of apocalyptic proportions.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 to avoid a climate catastrophe.
This is a daunting and urgent task that will require all hands on deck. All levels of government need to coordinate with each other to achieve this goal. Yet, in the United States, it is mostly local governments and a handful of states who are enacting policies to reduce emissions.
Here in Georgia, the state government has done precious little to address the climate crisis. This careless neglect has morphed into sabotage with the introduction of HB 150 which actively blocks local governments from using their authority to stop the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure within their jurisdictions.
Frankly, the Center for a Sustainable Coast would prefer to see the state government pass legislation to facilitate a phasing out of fossil fuels. Local governments cannot carry this burden alone if we expect to achieve the IPCC’s recommended goal.
Unfortunately, the legislators currently in power are doing the exact opposite. Instead of supporting local initiatives to transition to clean energy, they are doing the bidding of the natural gas industry who is seeking protection from the inevitable and necessary decline of fossil fuels. This bill is another case of government officials prioritizing special interest profits over the long-term prospects of society. The stakes are too high for us to let them get away with it.
Call your senator and let them know that you expect better than this.