More than 40 leaders in the environmental movement in Georgia are urging Senators Ossoff and Warnock to continue the fight for big and bold climate investments Biden’s Build Back Better Budget. These investments would protect the health, economy and climate of Georgia for generations to come.
Read the full letter sent to Ossoff and Warnock below.
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Dear Senator Ossoff and Senator Warnock,
A brutal extreme weather season is already underway. Heat waves worsening drought conditions throughout the Western United States and increasing risk of catastrophic wildfires, and extreme weather storms right here in Georgia are all made more severe by the climate crisis,and show the urgent need to #ActOnClimate. Thank you for all of your work to mitigate the climate crisis through bold investments in climate action.
As you know, over the next few weeks, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dramatically invest in the solutions that our district, the nation, and the world desperately need in order to stave off the worst consequences of the climate crisis.
That’s why Georgia business owners, civic leaders, youth activists, elected officials, and public health experts have joined together to ask you, Senator Warnock and Senator Ossoff, to go #BigAndBold and to #ACTNow on climate by continuing with your vocal support of the Build Back Better reconciliation bill.
We see this legislation as a key building block for a more just and equitable future, one where clean energy replaces dirty fuel sources, family-sustaining union jobs are plentiful, and the communities that have historically borne the brunt of climate crisis and pollution can thrive.
The plan is broad, as it must be to tackle the climate crisis, make our country more equitable, and protect American families. We are especially appreciative of the extension of clean energy tax credits to support wind, solar, and other renewable energy development along with batteries, electric vehicles, and EV charging stations. We also believe the Justice40 and civilian climate corps programs are particularly critical, incorporating jobs and equity into the fabric of the plan.
Here in Georgia, we have untapped potential to tackle the climate crisis through the production of renewable energy, specifically solar power. We know this plan is the last, best chance we have to protect future generations from the worst case scenario of the climate crisis.
We are calling on you, your colleagues in Congress, and the Biden Administration to move swiftly to get the big and bold investments our climate and communities need over the finish line in the next few weeks, in order to put our country on track toward a safer and healthier future. We appreciate the support you’ve given to bold climate investments so far this session, and it’s time to get this historic opportunity over the finish line.
We would love to assist you in any way possible through this critical budget reconciliation process in order to pass the Build Back Better Budget. We look forward to hearing from you and your staff with regards to your current position on this critical budget reconciliation process.
Thank you,
Dr. Gerald Durley, Reverend with Interfaith Power & Light
Carole Maddux, Archdeacon at Diocese of Atlanta
Laurence Rosenthal, Rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue
Daniel Bailey, Reverend
Jenny Phillips, Reverend at Glenn Memorial UMC
Mark Papier, Green Team Sustainability Leader at Ahavath Achim
Glenn Bosio, Parishioner at Glenn Bosio
Beverly Marshall Goodell, Retired Pastor at Smyrna First UMC
Heather Chase, Pastor at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church
Alexandria Dickey Tipton, Director of Children and Youth Ministries at First UMC Brunswick
David Lewicki, Co-Pastor at North Decatur Presbyterian Church
Brendolyn Jenkins Boseman, Pastor at Hudson Memorial Cme Methodist Church
Sam Blustin, Rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue
Dr. Grace Burton-Edwards, Reverend at St. Thomas Episcopal
Brent Huckaby, Pastor at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church
Codi Norred, Executive Director at Georgia Interfaith Power and Light
Montana Busch, CEO of Alternative Energy Southeast, Inc
Daniel Blackman, Sierra Club Georgia Chapter Chair
Alicia Scott, Just Energy Program Manager at Partnership for Southern Equity
Edward Terry, Commissioner of DeKalb County Commission
Scott Presson, Retired Public Health Professional, Lead Volunteer at Sierra Club Georgia Chapter
Tejas Kotak, Sierra Club Georgia Chapter Transportation Chair
Preeti Jaggi, Doctor at Emory University
Don Moreland, Founder of Solar Crowdsource
Tricia Embry, Wildlands and Wildlife Committee Co-Chair at Sierra Club Georgia Chapter
Bryan Jacob, Solar Program Director at Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Jessica Wahl, Renewable Energy Associate at Environment Georgia
Felicia Davis, Managing Director at HBCU Green Fund
Heather Pohnan, Energy Policy Manager at Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Cicely Garrett, Interim Just Energy Director at Partnership for Southern Equity
Chandra Farley, Founder of Good Energy Project
Michael Songster, President of Michael Songster Construction Inc.
Carol Myers, Commissioner of Athens-Clarke County Unified Government
Nnenne Ohyioha-Clayton, Co-Founder of Green Jobs Pipeline Coalition
Cary Ritzler, Steering Committee Member of 100% Athens
Jairo Garcia, CEO of Climate Reality Atlanta Chapter
Everett Dotson, Partnership of Southern Equity
Franklin Mack, Community leader of Atlanta
Jessica Morehead, Sierra Club Georgia Chapter Director
Brionté McCorkle, Executive Director of Georgia Conservation Voters