Georgia's Efforts to Reduce Carbon Emissions

The state of Georgia is making progress on its emissions reduction goals, "putting it closer to a new White House target of a 50% reduction in the U.S. by 2030 from 2005 levels," reports Matt Kempner for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The reductions are a result of "changes by not only big companies, developers and power producers but also individual metro Atlantans, many of whom have already partially reduced their carbon footprint, perhaps without fully realizing it." With an impressive 28% reduction in emissions between 2005 and 2018, "[f]ederal figures show that only five states have made larger percentage cuts than Georgia in carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion."

The state's electric utility, Georgia Power, along with utilities across the country, has switched to natural gas for lower emissions. "Another carbon-free power source on the rise: solar power, with big gains in technology and far lower prices." The state is also poised to complete a nuclear power generation project. 

"But there’s a lot more carbon to squeeze out, including in the electricity system, Georgia’s second-largest source of carbon belching, behind only transportation, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency." Whereas in the past Georgia Power "has resisted federal mandates for change by power companies," Southern Company, Georgia Power's parent company, now "wants government policies that promote investments in research, development and deployment of new energy technologies, long-lasting batteries, new nuclear power options, energy efficiency and more favorable taxes." To promote cleaner energy, says Georgia's Sierra Club chair Daniel Blackman, "state elected officials need to reenact a canceled tax credit for electric vehicle purchases, boost construction of charging stations and push Georgia Power to close plants sooner."