Policy Platform Draws New Lines in Public Debate around the Energy Affordability Crisis
(Atlanta, Georgia) – Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund (GCVEF) and the People’s Power Union today released the People’s Power Plan, a policy roadmap for uniting Georgians to lower energy bills, hold utilities accountable, and create an energy system that works for everyone. Building on years of grassroots organizing, climate advocacy, and public input, the plan offers a clear, actionable path forward for Georgia’s climate movement. It draws from surveys of over 500 Georgians, extensive modeling of the state’s energy future, policy experts in the field, and the lived experience of communities facing high bills, pollution, and power shutoffs.
“This plan is about building the next phase of a movement — one where we stop playing defense and start designing the energy future we deserve,” said Brionté McCorkle, Executive Director of GCV Education Fund. “Georgia families need relief from runaway bills and a seat at the table in decisions that affect our health, homes, and wallets.”
The People’s Power Plan outlines immediate steps to:
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- Protect Our People by rolling back excessive profit margins, requiring utilities to share fuel cost risk with customers, and defending families from disconnections.
- Build the Clean Energy Future by rejecting unnecessary gas plants, expanding distributed solar, and mandating transparency from data centers.
- Create an Energy Democracy by ensuring that the people of Georgia have a real say and stake in the future of the state’s energy.
Mark Spivey, a People’s Power Union member from Southeast Atlanta, endorsed the plan, saying,
“I joined the People’s Power Union because we are becoming a strong voice for our community. Our bills are too high, and we deserve clean, safe energy. We can win if we stick together.”
The plan debuted at a PSC Election Summit held Sept. 5-6 in Atlanta by Climate Power, whose June polling highlighted up to 77% opposition to Republican cuts to utility assistance and funding for energy upgrades in the federal budget. Backlash to Data Centers, which HeatMap recently revealed as less positively viewed than any renewables, has further complicated the position of legacy regulators after they approved an unprecedented grid expansion justified by the unpopular business ventures.
While the plan may read fiery, McCorkle believes the proposals inside are common sense.
“Stagnancy is not stability,” she said. “Between unprecedented demand growth, a changing climate, and an affordability crisis getting worse every day, Georgia needs a new approach.”
The full plan is available at https://gcvedfund.org/peoples-power-union/.