April 3, 2026
Hey there, Sierrans!
Earth Month is here! The days are longer, the sun is shining, and the summer humidity hasn't arrived yet. Aside from the onslaught of pollen, it's a wonderful time to be outside!
Here at the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter, one of our main priorities is helping people experience the power of our natural places. It's easy to forget what we're fighting for under the Gold Dome, at the Public Service Commission, and the halls of Congress, so it's important to get out in nature for a reminder of the importance of our work.
Earth Month is here! The days are longer, the sun is shining, and the summer humidity hasn't arrived yet. Aside from the onslaught of pollen, it's a wonderful time to be outside!
Here at the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter, one of our main priorities is helping people experience the power of our natural places. It's easy to forget what we're fighting for under the Gold Dome, at the Public Service Commission, and the halls of Congress, so it's important to get out in nature for a reminder of the importance of our work.
A group of Sierrans did just that last week at the Okefenokee Swamp (see picture above!). Lead by our Metro Atlanta Group, participants included folks from LaGrange, Florida, and California as well as leaders from the St. Marys Riverkeeper, Georgia Wildlife Federation, and Wild Cumberland.
The group spotted more than twenty species of birds, including swallow-tailed kites and red-cockaded woodpeckers, and too many alligators to count.
The group was joined by a Dekalb County naturalist, an epidemiologist, an expert on long-leaf pine habitat, an ornithologist, several teachers, at least one lawyer, and a critical care nurse specialist — having so many interesting people made the trip so much fun!
If you're interesting in join us on one of our upcoming outings, check out the Birding 101 and biking trips linked later in this email. You can also find all our upcoming events, outings, and meetings on our online calendar.
The group spotted more than twenty species of birds, including swallow-tailed kites and red-cockaded woodpeckers, and too many alligators to count.
The group was joined by a Dekalb County naturalist, an epidemiologist, an expert on long-leaf pine habitat, an ornithologist, several teachers, at least one lawyer, and a critical care nurse specialist — having so many interesting people made the trip so much fun!
If you're interesting in join us on one of our upcoming outings, check out the Birding 101 and biking trips linked later in this email. You can also find all our upcoming events, outings, and meetings on our online calendar.
Clean Energy
Sierra Club’s clean energy efforts continue across our state. At the Public Service Commission (PSC), Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign and Georgia Chapter are intervening in the fuel costs docket that is being held this year. Through this process, Georgia Power will request changes to billing its customers to cover fuel costs. We will also follow the storm damage docket, through which Georgia Power will ask for more money from customers to cover costs to repair damage the grid.
Sierra Club and other partners are pursuing action to protect our air and push back on Georgia Power's plans to greatly increase its use of fossil fuels. This includes challenging air permits for Plant Bowen's planned expansion and suing the Public Service Commission for approving Georgia Power's 10 GW expansion.
For those interested in state programs to promote for energy efficiency, Georgia officials are providing webinars on these programs over the next several months, with the next webinar April 22. You can find details for the events at this link.
Thank you to the Sierra Club staff and volunteers for their efforts! We need your voice and your actions to continue to make progress on our clean energy transition! While continuing to seek changes on the federal level, we will work at the state and local levels to advance the energy transition. Time to step up for maintaining the livability of our world. Join us Contact Scott Presson at spress51@gmail.com to volunteer or to learn more about our Chapter’s clean energy work!
Sierra Club and other partners are pursuing action to protect our air and push back on Georgia Power's plans to greatly increase its use of fossil fuels. This includes challenging air permits for Plant Bowen's planned expansion and suing the Public Service Commission for approving Georgia Power's 10 GW expansion.
For those interested in state programs to promote for energy efficiency, Georgia officials are providing webinars on these programs over the next several months, with the next webinar April 22. You can find details for the events at this link.
Thank you to the Sierra Club staff and volunteers for their efforts! We need your voice and your actions to continue to make progress on our clean energy transition! While continuing to seek changes on the federal level, we will work at the state and local levels to advance the energy transition. Time to step up for maintaining the livability of our world. Join us Contact Scott Presson at spress51@gmail.com to volunteer or to learn more about our Chapter’s clean energy work!
Legislative
Yesterday was the last day of the 2026 legislative session, and our decision makers have made one thing clear: They continue to put profits over people.
Over a dozen new and returning bills to regulate data centers in Georgia were introduced to this session, and not a single one passed. We fought to pass bills to require disclosure of water and energy use, to eliminate tax breaks for data centers, and to force data centers to pay the cost to expand our energy grid to power them — all of them failed to get to the governor's desk.
Our state has been one of the hardest hit by the rapid expansion of data centers; Georgia Power is planning the largest expansion in its history, and the overwhelming majority of that new electricity is for data centers. It is vital that our lawmakers implement regulations to protect our communities, but our state legislators chose profits over people.
Demanding better from data centers will continue to be an ongoing issue for the chapter, and the fight is not over yet. Across Georgia, communities are already taking action at the local level, advocating for local elected officials to implement moratoriums and ordinances to slow the spread and reduce negative impacts. Use this link to call on your local officials to ensure data centers are GOOD NEIGHBORS!
In addition to our work on data centers, a bill to provide free state parks access for veterans bill also failed, as did many other priority bills on solar, protecting the Okefenokee, and more. Stay tuned for a more in-depth look at the session coming your way soon.
Although this isn't the outcome we wanted, we want to offer our sincere thanks to the hundreds of Sierrans who took the time to call or email their lawmakers and fight for strong environmental legislation. We will continue to build power throughout the offseason and come back even stronger next year!
Now that the legislative session is over, it's time to turn our attention to this year's elections. If we want to pass stronger regulations on data centers, remove barriers to access solar power and electric vehicles, make it easier for veterans to get outside, and protect our air and water, it's clear we need to elect different leaders. If you want to get involved in our political work this year, sign up using this form.
Over a dozen new and returning bills to regulate data centers in Georgia were introduced to this session, and not a single one passed. We fought to pass bills to require disclosure of water and energy use, to eliminate tax breaks for data centers, and to force data centers to pay the cost to expand our energy grid to power them — all of them failed to get to the governor's desk.
Our state has been one of the hardest hit by the rapid expansion of data centers; Georgia Power is planning the largest expansion in its history, and the overwhelming majority of that new electricity is for data centers. It is vital that our lawmakers implement regulations to protect our communities, but our state legislators chose profits over people.
Demanding better from data centers will continue to be an ongoing issue for the chapter, and the fight is not over yet. Across Georgia, communities are already taking action at the local level, advocating for local elected officials to implement moratoriums and ordinances to slow the spread and reduce negative impacts. Use this link to call on your local officials to ensure data centers are GOOD NEIGHBORS!
In addition to our work on data centers, a bill to provide free state parks access for veterans bill also failed, as did many other priority bills on solar, protecting the Okefenokee, and more. Stay tuned for a more in-depth look at the session coming your way soon.
Although this isn't the outcome we wanted, we want to offer our sincere thanks to the hundreds of Sierrans who took the time to call or email their lawmakers and fight for strong environmental legislation. We will continue to build power throughout the offseason and come back even stronger next year!
Now that the legislative session is over, it's time to turn our attention to this year's elections. If we want to pass stronger regulations on data centers, remove barriers to access solar power and electric vehicles, make it easier for veterans to get outside, and protect our air and water, it's clear we need to elect different leaders. If you want to get involved in our political work this year, sign up using this form.
Outings
Join us for two fun April outings to get outside and enjoy this springtime weather! You can find all our other outings and events on our online calendar.
Saturday, April 18, 3-5 AM: Birding 101 at Constitution Lakes Park
- Join us for a beginner-friendly introduction to birding at one of Atlanta's hidden gems: Constitution Lakes Park! We'll explore a 1.6-mile trail at a relaxed pace — binoculars provided, no experience needed. Just bring water and comfortable shoes.
- Learn more and sign up at this link.
Tuesday, April 28, 6:30-8:30 PM: Atlanta Westside History Bike Ride
- Explore some of Atlanta's most historically rich and resilient neighborhoods on this guided ride through the Westside! The route will be between 8-10 miles with some moderate hills, suitable for folks who have experience riding bikes throughout the city. Helmets are required; bikes and e-bikes welcome.
- Learn more and sign up at this link.
Transportation
The Transportation Committee recently participated in a panel discussion alongside other advocates of Beltline Rail at the Atlanta DSA Chapter’s "Dude, Where’s My Streetcar" teach-in event. Hosted at the Little Five Points Community Center, the event provided information and context around the impacts of the stalled Streetcar East transit expansion, which would extend the initial portion of light rail transit onto the Atlanta Beltline, and provide necessary support for other future expansions.
After the conclusion of the 2026 Legislative Session, final results for certain transportation bills were settled. HB 583, initially a bill about free license plates for certain veterans, was resurrected with the rules to create an 8-year T-SPLOST Moratorium, and made it through the senate on a party-line vote, but then (thankfully) died in the house.
HB 297, initially a bill about ad valorum tax of motor vehicles, was rewritten to create the new Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority (GTEA). In a last-minute sprint through the legislative process, this bill was approved in the senate, amended in the house to include the MARTA taxation extension, passed in the house, and then passed again in the senate.
The new GTEA will act as a state-wide transit authority, though no new or dedicated funding has been established. It dissolves the remnants of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and takes on all previous powers and assets from the Atlanta Transit Link Authority (ATL Authority). However, the new authority no longer maintains the required regional transit planning responsibilities, and the new board structure will see it appointed by state-level officials rather than any local jurisdictions
The bill creating GTEA still needs to be signed by the governor, and if it is signed, there will be significant work to stand the new agency up and wind down GRTA and the ATL Authority. So the future of state level transportation planning and authority is uncertain. Watch this space for more information as it becomes available.
After the conclusion of the 2026 Legislative Session, final results for certain transportation bills were settled. HB 583, initially a bill about free license plates for certain veterans, was resurrected with the rules to create an 8-year T-SPLOST Moratorium, and made it through the senate on a party-line vote, but then (thankfully) died in the house.
HB 297, initially a bill about ad valorum tax of motor vehicles, was rewritten to create the new Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority (GTEA). In a last-minute sprint through the legislative process, this bill was approved in the senate, amended in the house to include the MARTA taxation extension, passed in the house, and then passed again in the senate.
The new GTEA will act as a state-wide transit authority, though no new or dedicated funding has been established. It dissolves the remnants of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and takes on all previous powers and assets from the Atlanta Transit Link Authority (ATL Authority). However, the new authority no longer maintains the required regional transit planning responsibilities, and the new board structure will see it appointed by state-level officials rather than any local jurisdictions
The bill creating GTEA still needs to be signed by the governor, and if it is signed, there will be significant work to stand the new agency up and wind down GRTA and the ATL Authority. So the future of state level transportation planning and authority is uncertain. Watch this space for more information as it becomes available.
Wildlands & Wildlife
Calling all wildlands and wildlife lovers:
Register here for the next Wildlands Committee meeting on April 27 at 6 PM! We'll talk about our recent visit to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (check out the photo above!), what's going on with the Cumberland Island land exchange, a rewilding campaign you can participate in from your front yard, and conversations Wildlands Chair Dani Purvis has planned with U.S. legislators during the Endangered Species Coalition DC fly-in on Earth Day!
In other Okefenokee news, we were pleased to learn that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources issued a grant of $7 million to purchase nearly 4,000 acres of land on Trail Ridge, which forms the eastern boundary of the Swamp. It's expected that this newly purchased land will become a Wildlife Management Area.
Email Wildlands Chair Dani Purvis to join the Wildlands listserv, share outings and events happening in your community, and volunteer for wildlands activities!
Register here for the next Wildlands Committee meeting on April 27 at 6 PM! We'll talk about our recent visit to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (check out the photo above!), what's going on with the Cumberland Island land exchange, a rewilding campaign you can participate in from your front yard, and conversations Wildlands Chair Dani Purvis has planned with U.S. legislators during the Endangered Species Coalition DC fly-in on Earth Day!
In other Okefenokee news, we were pleased to learn that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources issued a grant of $7 million to purchase nearly 4,000 acres of land on Trail Ridge, which forms the eastern boundary of the Swamp. It's expected that this newly purchased land will become a Wildlife Management Area.
Email Wildlands Chair Dani Purvis to join the Wildlands listserv, share outings and events happening in your community, and volunteer for wildlands activities!
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.
Our March meeting featured Conscious Mycology (the study of mushrooms) with Brian Carsner. Brian brings a unique blend of scientific discipline and natural curiosity to the world of fungi, exploring how mushrooms can support human health and well-being. Founder of Conscious Mycology, Bryan's journey began with a personal exploration into the world of functional mushrooms. He leads Conscious Mycology with a mission to make high-quality mushroom extracts accessible, effective, and trusted. His work bridges the gap between science and nature, offering a grounded, evidence-informed perspective on how fungi can support physical and mental well-being.
For our April 2nd meeting, we hosted Michael Hawthorne Jr., our new Beyond Coal Campaign leader. As Campaign Organizing Strategist for the Beyond Coal Campaign, Michael leads efforts to hold Southern Company accountable to a just and equitable clean energy transition across the Southeast. His work focuses on building partnerships, translating complex energy policy into accessible campaigns, and mobilizing communities to drive systemic change.
Michael is committed to ensuring that the clean energy movement is inclusive, representative, and driven by the voices of the communities most impacted. Currently in Georgia, Beyond Coal is focused on the storm and fuel recovery dockets at the public service commission and is launching the “Invest in Georgians” mobilization campaign that is focused on creating pressure to drive positive economic and affordability results for everyday Georgia families.
We are looking for a Treasurer to volunteer to handle our financials. Only a few minutes of time needed per month for the job. Please contact Lynn Walston if you are interested.
Our upcoming proposed April outings include hikes at Lula Falls and the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail. Check our Outings Calendar to RSVP and join us on the trail!
To receive the Centennial Group newsletter, email Lee Graham.
Our March meeting featured Conscious Mycology (the study of mushrooms) with Brian Carsner. Brian brings a unique blend of scientific discipline and natural curiosity to the world of fungi, exploring how mushrooms can support human health and well-being. Founder of Conscious Mycology, Bryan's journey began with a personal exploration into the world of functional mushrooms. He leads Conscious Mycology with a mission to make high-quality mushroom extracts accessible, effective, and trusted. His work bridges the gap between science and nature, offering a grounded, evidence-informed perspective on how fungi can support physical and mental well-being.
For our April 2nd meeting, we hosted Michael Hawthorne Jr., our new Beyond Coal Campaign leader. As Campaign Organizing Strategist for the Beyond Coal Campaign, Michael leads efforts to hold Southern Company accountable to a just and equitable clean energy transition across the Southeast. His work focuses on building partnerships, translating complex energy policy into accessible campaigns, and mobilizing communities to drive systemic change.
Michael is committed to ensuring that the clean energy movement is inclusive, representative, and driven by the voices of the communities most impacted. Currently in Georgia, Beyond Coal is focused on the storm and fuel recovery dockets at the public service commission and is launching the “Invest in Georgians” mobilization campaign that is focused on creating pressure to drive positive economic and affordability results for everyday Georgia families.
We are looking for a Treasurer to volunteer to handle our financials. Only a few minutes of time needed per month for the job. Please contact Lynn Walston if you are interested.
Our upcoming proposed April outings include hikes at Lula Falls and the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail. Check our Outings Calendar to RSVP and join us on the trail!
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.
Gwinnett members continue to attend meetings of environmental interest groups or organizations, such as the Gwinnett County Sustainability Commission, and participate in projects.
On April 15, we will be tabling at the University of North Georgia (UNG) Gainesville campus from 11 am to 2 PM for their Earth Day event. Stop by and say hello!
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). We look forward to more progress on clean energy, sustainability, and resilience in 2026!
Metro Atlanta Group
At our meeting in March, Metro Atlanta Group ExCom member Justin Brightharp took us on a visual tour of sustainability insights from his recent visit to Colombia. Justin is pursuing his Masters in Environmental Management at Duke University through the Duke Environmental Leadership Program. Through this Duke program, Justin went to Colombia for spring break to learn about sustainable development through policy, conservation, and cultural lenses. A recording of this meeting is available on our Youtube playlist (videos are listed from oldest to newest).
Our next meeting on Sunday, April 19, will be an event in collaboration with Community Documentary Night . This online event will be a discussion about a documentary film on factory farms called "Common Enemy." The director and co-writer of the documentary, as well as several organizers featured in the film, will join the event for Q&A. Please watch the film on your own before joining the Zoom call for this event! Here is a link to watch it for free. To receive the Zoom link and find out more about the event, please sign up through Community Documentary Night's Eventbrite page.
Table with us at the Georgia Sierra Club's booth at the Atlanta Dogwood Festival next weekend in Piedmont Park! Please email Outings Coordinator Devin Cowens you'd like to help out at the booth by speaking with folks about Sierra Club and learning about their interests. Along with Jazz Fest and Atlanta Pride, Dogwood Festival gets some of the highest festival foot traffic in Georgia, so this is a great opportunity for us to share what we're working on, and connect with folks who might like to work together on our common goals.
Have ideas for our next group meetings or outings? Get started on planning with us by emailing our group's vice-chair, Nina Dutton.
Middle Chattahoochee Group
The Middle Chattahoochee Group's meetings are generally held at 7 PM on 3rd Tuesday of each month. The group offers a virtual option for meetings on Zoom, but folks can show up early around 6:30 PM and enjoy a social gathering with refreshments!
The Group's March 17 meeting featured Sierra Club Georgia Chapter Wildlands Chair Dani Purvis, who presented an update on old, new, and emerging wildlands threats across the state.
April's meeting will feature a presentation with live exhibits about wholistic chicken culture presented by our local poultry enthusiast Anahata Iridah. The meeting is planned for April 21, stay tuned to the Middle Chattahoochee Group's Facebook page for more information.
In March, the Middle Chattahoochee Group sponsored a cleanup site as part of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper's "Sweep the Hooch" event on March 21st with 28 people in attendance and 96 bags of trash collected (see photo above!).
Upcoming outings include an April 25 hike through Sprewell Bluff Park along the Flint River and a May 16 outing exploring Flat Shoal Creek's shoal lily with Middle Chattahoochee Group Executive Committee member and PhD student Sarah Tash.
To get involved with the Middle Chattahoochee Group, contact them at midchattsierraclub@gmail.com.
The Group's March 17 meeting featured Sierra Club Georgia Chapter Wildlands Chair Dani Purvis, who presented an update on old, new, and emerging wildlands threats across the state.
April's meeting will feature a presentation with live exhibits about wholistic chicken culture presented by our local poultry enthusiast Anahata Iridah. The meeting is planned for April 21, stay tuned to the Middle Chattahoochee Group's Facebook page for more information.
In March, the Middle Chattahoochee Group sponsored a cleanup site as part of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper's "Sweep the Hooch" event on March 21st with 28 people in attendance and 96 bags of trash collected (see photo above!).
Upcoming outings include an April 25 hike through Sprewell Bluff Park along the Flint River and a May 16 outing exploring Flat Shoal Creek's shoal lily with Middle Chattahoochee Group Executive Committee member and PhD student Sarah Tash.
To get involved with the Middle Chattahoochee Group, contact them at midchattsierraclub@gmail.com.
Savannah River Group
The Savannah River Group has been busy this March! The Golden Harvest Food Bank talked with us about their importance to the community and about eliminating food waste at our monthly meeting.
Our outings included hiking Peach Tree Rock Heritage Preserve in South Carolina and the Augusta Riverwalk in Georgia (see photo above!) followed by a luncheon social. Find all our outings and meetings at the Georgia Chapter calendar. Come join us!
Our outings included hiking Peach Tree Rock Heritage Preserve in South Carolina and the Augusta Riverwalk in Georgia (see photo above!) followed by a luncheon social. Find all our outings and meetings at the Georgia Chapter calendar. Come join us!
It's our spring fundraising drive! If you haven't yet made a donation to support the Georgia Chapter, please consider making a gift a today.
