News and Inspiration
Check here for information about Georgia Public Service Commission hearings. You'll also find inspiring ideas and perspectives from youth and adult climate activists working to drive critical change in Georgia.
May, 2025
There have been some very good articles written about Georgia Power's 2025 IRP and the PSC hearings. Here are a few:
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1. Why the parts of the IRP plan that are available to the public are already bad:
https://www.sierraclub.org/georgia/IRP2025
2. The concern about the additional massive amount of energy that Georgia Power is requesting and refusing to disclose sourcing for yet:
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/utilities/georgia-power-plan-gas-expansion
3. Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy brought in experts to review Georgia Power’s IRP:
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​4. Hundreds of Georgians have expressed their concerns about burning more fossil fuels to generate our electricity, but Commissioners have failed to take action:
https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/environment/article299720654.html
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Lily Mae Bacik
GA Tech Sophomore
March 1, 2025
Hi there! I’m so excited that you found this website and I hope you plan to join us in urging our Georgia Public Service Commissioners to reject any requests Georgia Power makes to delay retiring coal plants or expand their use of natural gas. Instead, we must demand a rapid transition to clean energy during the 2025 Georgia Power Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) hearings.​
In January of 2024, I was one of 17 students who delivered public comments together during the unexpected off-cycle IRP hearings. Speaking directly to the Commissioners was a little intimidating, but we had researched, prepared, and knew we were backed by science and truth. Afterward, we all felt exhilarated and proud of having spoken up—and ready to do it again!
Unfortunately, despite clear economic and climate science arguments for clean energy alternatives, the Commissioners approved Georgia Power’s massive fossil fuel expansion request. We can’t let that happen again! Numbers matter, and we need many more people to raise their voices. Whether you dedicate several hours to this effort or just spend 5 minutes submitting a written public comment, your participation will help to put pressure on the Commissioners to pay attention and act.
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If you’re thinking about making a public comment at a hearing, I strongly encourage you to go for it! Last year, several students and adults who made public comments were quoted in both local and state media. Each speaker gets up to three minutes to address the commissioners. You are welcome to prepare your own remarks based upon your personal experiences and knowledge, or people on the Rise Up for Clean Energy Team are happy to help! They can provide talking points or even a complete script (which you can customize) that either reinforces key messages for the commissioners or includes powerful quotes from climate scientists and health professionals about the dangers of burning fossil fuels.
To help you get started, below is a link to the comments my group made last year, complete with footnotes. Feel free to use any of our comments - every point is worth repeating!
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Together, we can make a difference!​​