Environmental Justice
Every Georgian deserves clean air and safe water. However, in places like the Gullah Geechee on the Golden Isles to small towns and city neighborhoods, some folks get hit harder than others. These policies help make sure no community gets left behind.
Strengthen Pollution Monitoring
Communities near Georgia’s industrial corridors from Augusta to the Savannah River, often live with little data on air or water quality. Stronger pollution monitoring ensures families know what they're breathing and drinking.
California Assembly Bill 617 (2017)
- Summary: Established community-focused air pollution monitoring and required local air districts to take action to reduce emissions in heavily impacted areas.
- Why It Matters for Georgia: Similar community monitoring could help neighborhoods near Atlanta’s industrial corridors, the Port of Savannah, or Augusta's chemical plants better track pollution and demand cleanup where it’s needed most.
- Status: Enacted
New Jersey S.B.232 (2020)
- Summary: Requires state agencies to evaluate the cumulative impact of pollution in overburdened communities before granting new permits.
- Why It Matters for Georgia: Georgia could use a similar law to prevent low-income and Black communities—like parts of South Atlanta or Brunswick—from becoming hotspots for pollution-heavy industries.
- Status: Enacted
New Mexico House Bill 51 (2021)
- Summary: Directs the state to create a public database identifying environmental hazards affecting vulnerable populations to improve transparency and decision-making.
- Why It Matters for Georgia: A database like this could help rural and urban Georgia communities especially near industrial zones gain clearer information about local pollution risks and hold decision-makers accountable.
- Status: Enacted
Accountability
Georgia HB 1263 (2024)
- Summary: Would require state agencies to consider environmental justice concerns when taking certain actions and create a statewide Environmental Justice Commission to help guide decisions.
- Why It Matters for Georgia: Communities in Smyrna and Covington were exposed to cancer-causing ethylene oxide for years without clear warning or state accountability. A law like this could help prevent future public health crises by requiring agencies to consider how pollution impacts frontline communities before approving projects.
- Status: Died in committee
Reducing Energy Burden
Many Georgia households, especially in rural and low-income communities, spend a large share of their income on power bills. Cutting energy burdens keeps the lights on without families having to choose between electricity and essential services.
Maine L.D. 787 (2022) – Energy Efficiency in Low-Income Housing
- Summary: Requires new affordable housing projects receiving public funds to meet energy efficiency standards, reducing long-term utility costs for low-income renters.
- Why It Matters for Georgia: As Georgia builds more affordable housing, requiring energy efficiency for renters in cities like Atlanta, Macon, and Savannah could help families save money while cutting emissions.
- Status: Enacted
New York Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (2019)
- Summary: Commits 35–40% of clean energy investments to benefit disadvantaged communities, reducing energy costs and increasing clean energy access.
- Why It Matters for Georgia: In many rural and low-income areas, Georgians pay a disproportionate share of their income on energy. A similar policy could help direct savings and upgrades to where they’re most needed.
- Status: Enacted
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