FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2023
Contact: Abraham Park, Georgia Conservation Voters, abraham@gcvoters.org, 843-230-1491
Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund announces Georgia Electric Membership Cooperative Scorecard Release & Steering Committee Launch
Atlanta, Georgia — Georgia Conservation Voters announced the establishment of the Georgia EMC (Electric Membership Cooperative) Steering Committee today, officially launching on Thursday, January 19, 2023. The EMC Steering Committee is a movement of residents across the state of Georgia who have come together to take back their member-owned electricity companies and fight for affordable bills, clean energy, and community-centered policies and programs.
“The Georgia EMC Steering Committee was formed on the idea that everyday Georgians should have a voice in their power bills and the decisions their EMCs make,” said Georgia Conservation Voters Organizing Director Wan Smith. “Power should belong to the people, not just a wealthy few.”
Electric co-ops serve approximately 4.4 million of Georgia’s 10 million residents and 73 percent of the state’s land area. The Georgia EMC Steering Committee is a group of historically under-represented electric co-op member-owners from across the state working together to provide education, support, and organizing tools to their community. The Committee plans to meet virtually once a month to foster a system of stability and organizing strength across the state. The Committee will also meet once a year for an in-person convening.
The Steering Committee plans on releasing a scorecard on EMCs during the launch. Scorecards are an important tool for member-owners and nonprofit groups to hold their co-ops accountable, while also identifying encouraging or concerning trends among cooperatives. The scorecard also allows EMC leaders and member-owners to easily identify strengths and weaknesses in their co-ops and provides stakeholders and neighbors with a tool to better understand EMCs in their area.
Interested parties can sign up to attend the virtual launch at bit.ly/emc-launch.
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About Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund
Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund’s mission is to mobilize Georgians to advance climate and environmental justice through education, advocacy and other forms of civic engagement. For more information, visit www.gcvedfund.org