Announcing the Start of the 2025 Georgia Legislative Session

The 2025 Georgia Legislative Session begins on Monday, January 13th, and Georgia WAND is prepared to advocate for bold, transformative changes to address the pressing energy and environmental justice concerns of Georgians. Over the interim break, we’ve worked closely with lawmakers to develop policies that provide balanced, long-term solutions for the challenges our communities face.

This session, Georgia WAND is prioritizing bold legislation to address the energy and environmental justice issues impacting Georgians. Key focuses include:

1. Modernizing Oversight:
   • Rename the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) to the Public Utility Commission to better reflect its role and engage voters.
   • Re-establish the Consumer Utility Counsel at the PSC to advocate for consumer interests. Customers must have representation.
   • Require discovery rights for intervenors during PSC rate cases and Integrated Resource Plans (IRP).
2. Empowering Energy Consumers:
   • Allow customer access to smart meter data to unlock energy savings and benefits. 
   • Introduce the Georgia Homegrown Solar Bill, enabling community solar installations for Georgians seeking affordable, renewable energy.
3. Corporate Accountability and Reform:
   • Restructure Georgia Power’s compensation model to be performance-based rather than profit-driven.
   • Ban donations from entities with business before the commission within a specified timeframe.
4. Strengthening Environmental Protections:
   • Pass the Bad Actor Bill, empowering the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to deny permits to known polluters.
   • Establish a Study Committee on the Cumulative Impact of Pollution on economic development and growth.
5. Tax Policy Adjustments:
   • Place a moratorium on data center tax credits to evaluate their long-term impacts on the surrounding environment and electricity rates.
6. Critical Reforms:
   • Disallow anyone with business before the PSC Commission to donate to commissioners for a specified period of time. Repeal 5.30.1 part d to eliminate corruption.

Save the Dates: Upcoming Advocacy Days

We invite you to join us in person to advocate for energy and environmental justice at the Georgia State Capitol:

• Environmental Justice Day @ the Capitol: Thursday, January 30th, 2025.
• Georgia WAND Day @ the Capitol: Tuesday, March 11th, 2025.

Join Us in Advocacy

The 2025 legislative session is an opportunity to build a future where all Georgians thrive. We encourage you to stay informed, participate in advocacy efforts, and help us hold our leaders accountable. Together, we can create a more equitable, sustainable Georgia.

Stay tuned for updates, and let’s make this session count!