Happy Holidays, Sierrans!
It's been quite a year full of ups and downs. We elected two new members of the Georgia Public Service Commission and helped stop a proposal to mine near the Okefenokee Swamp! We also saw an unprecedented influx of power-hungry data centers and, as a result, a resurgence of fossil fuels in Georgia.
From all of us at the Georgia Chapter to all of your friends and loved ones, we wish you a happy and peaceful holiday season. We plan to take the next few weeks to recharge and rest, then we'll be hitting the ground running in 2026.
Thanks for everything. We'll see you next year!
We'd love to see you at one of our upcoming events. Our calendar is full of educational meetings, outings and hikes, and opportunities for fellowship. Check our online calendar at any time to see what's coming up!
Clean Energy
This year, there have been bright spots across the globe, as nearly all countries remain committed to the Paris Agreement. There are brights spots in the USA, as well, including in Georgia. The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, GEFA, has implemented the Georgia Home Energy Rebates program that continues to be available to low and moderate income households with incentives to qualifying households/tenants to make electrification and efficiency improvements to their home. You can check the program information and status at the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) website.
Our Sierra Club Georgia Chapter and Beyond Coal Campaign staff partnered with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) to intervene with the Public Service Commission (PSC) hearings on Georgia power’s massive spending plan to power data centers. A number of us made comments at a recent hearing, with public comments overwhelmingly being very critical of GA Power’s proposed expansion of methane gas plants and continued use of coal plants, as well as the unaffordable electricity for many families. On Friday, December 19, the PSC approved Georgia Power’s proposal despite this public pushback.
Fortunately, the November election brought us two new PSC Commissioners, Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson, who will take office in January. They are both aligned with our goals of a livable, sustainable planet.
Is it time to step up for maintaining the livability of our world? Later is Too Late! Join us! Donate your time to working on clean energy issues with us. Contact Scott Presson at spress51@gmail.com to volunteer or to learn more about our Chapter’s clean energy work!
Legislative
The 2026 Georgia Legislative Session is upon us, and this year, we will be hitting the ground running to help regulate and mitigate the impacts of data Centers in Georgia. Join us for all of our upcoming opportunities to take action and make change in your community.
Here are four ways you can get involved in our legislative work in 2026:
- Sign up for our 2026 Legislative Session Preview
- Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 | 6 PM
- Online via Zoom
- Georgia Chapter Legislative Chair Mark Woodall and environmental lobbyist Neill Herring will give us a rundown on the big issues we'll be working on at the Capitol. This event will be held online via Zoom.
- Learn Lobbying 101 at our training event
- Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 | 6 PM
- Online via Zoom
- This virtual training at the beginning of the legislative session will help you feel fully prepared for meetings with legislators, participating in periodic calls, email threads, and actions with chapter staff and volunteer leaders throughout the legislative session.
- Join our Legislative Liaisons team
- This program is designed to help volunteers make connections with their state lawmakers. History has convincingly shown that repeated conversations and relationship-building with legislators can result in significant improvements in their voting records on environmental protection. We'll give you al the information, fact sheets, and training you need to be an effective advocate!
- Get on our legislative mailing list
- Want to stay in the loop, but haven't got the time to be a liaison? Sign up for our biweekly legislative newsletter to get updates from under the dome and ways to take action!
Outings
Over the past six months, Sierra Club Georgia successfully launched and built a new Chapter Outings program that connects Georgians to nature while deepening engagement with conservation, environmental justice, and community advocacy. With grant support, the Chapter hired a temporary Outings Coordinator, Devin Cowens, who established foundational program infrastructure, completed required safety and leadership certifications, and cultivated strong partnerships across Metro Atlanta.
Since July, we have hosted a diverse range of outings, including, birding, hikes, bike rides, native plant workshops, environmental justice programming, and supporter gatherings; all designed to be welcoming, accessible, and affinity-based.
Through intentional collaboration with community partners like the Intown Atlanta Georgia Native Plant Society, Food Well Alliance, and West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, participants gained outdoor skills, local ecological knowledge, and a positive, values-aligned introduction to Sierra Club’s work. The program has fostered authentic connection and joy during a time when climate and environmental challenges can feel overwhelming.
We look forward to continuing this work in 2026 by expanding the program through additional outings, deeper community partnerships, and broader engagement across Metro Atlanta.
Transportation
In 2025, the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter Transportation Committee joined allied organizations Beltline Rail Now and MARTA Army to host a series of "Let's Talk Transit" social events. The final event of 2025 was held earlier this month (see photo above). Transit advocates joined local officials at the Hudson Grille in Midtown Atlanta to spend an evening eating, drinking, and discussing transportation issues within the city.
Let's Talk Transit events are hosted quarterly, and will resume in 2026, so keep an eye on the chapter calendar for future events!
Wildlands & Wildlife
While we celebrate this victory, we know that the fight to preserve the Okefenokee is not finished.
So as part of our work to give the Swamp long-term protections, we'll be fighting to pass new legislation when the Georgia Legislature returns in 2026.
To help with that effort, we're asking for volunteers to participate in a social media campaign. Every day during the 40-day session, we want to post a video from a concerned Georgian asking the Legislature to take action to save the Swamp. The campaign is called "40 Days For The Okefenokee."
If you're interested in participating, please check out the guidelines and tips at this link or contact Communications Strategist Ricky Leroux at ricky.leroux@sierraclub.org.
- The Augusta Chronicle has an interesting article about the impacts of climate change on our health.
- This article in the AJC is about a new study that confirms that mining near the Okefenokee Swamp would impact the Floridan aquifer.
- A column from Sally Bathea in RoughDraft Atlanta discusses the recent increase in state park fees approved by the Georgia Board of Natural Resources.
Centennial Group
The Centennial Group, representing the Northwest Atlanta suburbs, meets the first Thursday of each month. Meetings can be attended in person at Life University in Marietta or virtually via Zoom.
The Group’s October meeting featured guest speaker and geologist Dr. Bill Witherspoon, who discussed how our mountains are formed. In November, the Group hosted Janet Westervelt to discus her 3-month, 12,000 mile solo travels in Alaska. And in December, the Group had its annual Holiday Party at Life University (see photo above) with Italian food and 31 attendees.
Throughout the year, the group publicized local election and environmental news and also recommended and secured an endorsement for Sam Foster for Marietta mayor. The Group also recently led outings on the Bartram Trail & Siler Bald in North Carolina, the Appalachian Trail, and the Gold Branch Trail along the Chattahoochee River. Upcoming outings include a trip to the Sandhill Crane Migration Festival at Hiwassee Refuge in Tennessee in January.
We look forward to another year of continued support of local environmental issues, fun outings, and interesting programs. To receive the Centennial Group newsletter, email Lee Graham.
Greater Gwinnett Group
The Greater Gwinnett Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6:30 for social times and 7:00 for the meeting. Our new meeting location is the Wynne Russell House, located at 4684 Wynne Russell Dr NW, Lilburn. We conduct hybrid meetings with both in-person and virtual attendance options.
Our next meeting will be on January 8 for the Chapter’s Legislative Preview with Mark Woodall and Neil Herring. Gwinnett Group members can participate in person at the Wynne Russell House or virtually. The meeting is from 6 to 7 PM.
Gwinnett members continue to attend meetings of environmental interest groups or organizations, such as the Gwinnett County Sustainability Commission, as well as participate in projects. Michael Hallen and others continue to conduct monthly stream monitoring at the Martin’s Farm landing on Martin Farm Road on the Suwanee Greenway (3rd Sunday of every month).
The highlight for many of us in 2025 was the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) election in November. We now have two newly elected commissioners who share our values. Alicia Johnson, representing District 2, and Peter Hubbard, in District 3, will take office in January. We are proud to have been part of the effort to bring that about. PSC Districts 3 and 5 are up for election in 2026. We look forward to more progress in 2026!
Metro Atlanta Group
On Nov. 17, we met online for our final group meeting of the year, focusing on Georgia's hemlocks. Special thanks to Heidi Hunter, executive director of Save Georgia's Hemlocks, for her informative presentation! Hemlocks are a keystone species in the Appalachian forest ecosystems in which they grow. Not only are these trees home to plenty of birds and insects, but trout and many other species also depend on hemlocks' shade to keep streams cool.
Save Georgia's Hemlocks website offers a wealth of resources to learn more about hemlocks, the hemlock woolly adelgid insect that feeds on hemlock sap, and ways to get involved with the organization, including through education, service, and treatment of trees.
Here is a playlist of video recordings of past Metro group meetings (listed from oldest to newest).
We had two fantastic visits to Constitution Lakes Park to round out 2025. On Nov. 29, we took a guided hike with DeKalb County naturalist and ranger Tasha Messer, along with zoologist and avid hunter Bryce Messer, where we learned to recognize subtle wildlife clues and practiced respectful observation of wildlife. Then, on Dec. 15, we braved a cold afternoon to return for a habitat restoration project in the wetlands of this park!
On our radar: Data centers in DeKalb County
Per reporting from Decaturish:
Here are the latest developments:
The commission will consider a special land use permit for a proposed data center at 4280 and 4358 Loveless Place and 2281 Pineview Trail in South DeKalb on Jan. 13.
Commissioners will consider voting on an ordinance regulating the land use for data centers on Jan. 27.
A moratorium on new applications and expansions of data centers is in place. The commission extended it until June 23, 2026."
Resistance to unregulated data center development, and opposition to data centers more broadly, is growing in the metro Atlanta area. At the Dec. 16 DeKalb County commission meeting, every person who made a public comment about data centers was opposed to them, with most comments touching on health and/or environmental concerns.
Ahead of the DeKalb County Commission's expected decisions in January, residents have the opportunity to contact the commissioners with input on whether to allow data centers in the county, or what kinds of regulations could help reduce data centers' negative effects on our communities.
Resources to learn more:
- The Sierra Club Georgia Chapter has created this resource for learning about and organizing around data centers.
- Southern Environmental Law Center: "Overhyped data center growth is shaping our energy future"
- South DeKalb Coalition is a group organizing against the proposed Ellenwood/Cedar Grove data center. This group has a petition against the data center proposal at this link.
Tuesday, Jan. 13: Soil and water conservation in your neighborhood
We're already looking forward to our next group meeting! Perhaps when you have voted in the past, you've seen "Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor" as one of the elections on your ballot. Did you ever wonder what these districts are and what that supervisor does? If so, mark your calendar for our next meeting, when we'll hear from Carol Hayes, a DeKalb County SWCD supervisor! RSVP for this meeting at this link!
Middle Chattahoochee Group
Savannah River Group
Fall with the Savannah River Sierra Club was all about hiking. In November, the Group joined the Aiken Hiking Club to explore Barnwell State Park and led a seven-mile hike through Mistletoe State Park on the Rock Dam trail.
The Group’s monthly meeting in November took participants to Peru to visit Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain and beyond to Lake Titicaca. The Group’s co-chair, Cathy Black shared an amazing photo tour of this exciting region.
Data Centers have taken center stage for our group with public hearings in Columbia County. If you are interested in working with the Sierra Club on this important subject, contact us at SRGsierraclub@gmail.com.
Please make a donation to the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter today — 100% of your gift stays local and will be applied where it is most urgently needed. Your investment truly makes all the difference!