Press Releases
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Georgia Public Service Commission approves burning more fossil fuels for energy
ATLANTA — Today the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) approved Georgia Power’s off-cycle request to burn more fossil fuels for energy as they seek to attract more large-load customers, including data centers, potentially exposing residential and small business customers to greater air pollution and bill hikes.
Interfaith Organization Supports EPA’s New Vehicle Emission Standards
WASHINGTON—Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) commends today’s announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) providing new national tailpipe emission standards. People of faith know well the value of being a good neighbor and protecting the vulnerable.
Cumming Church is one of Six National Winners of Interfaith Power and Light’s Cool Congregations Award
WASHINGTON—Cumming First United Methodist Church (UMC) in Cumming, Georgia is one of only six national Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) Cool Congregations awarded a $1,000 prize in 2024. This annual contest accepts applications from religious communities across the United States working to address climate change.
Georgia Faith Communities Organize at Summit to Build Local Climate Resilience
Decatur, Ga. — Saturday, Feb. 3 Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) hosted its sixth annual Green Team Summit at Oak Grove United Methodist Church (UMC) in Decatur, Georgia focused on climate resilience. Over 230 faith leaders and environmental advocates came together to learn and grow, considering how they might weather the effects of global warming together.
EPA Finalizes Stronger Soot Pollution Standards Following Advocacy from Georgia Faith Communities
ATLANTA — Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced stronger soot pollution standards following advocacy efforts by faith communities in Georgia. Since 2023, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) has gathered over 700 comments from faith leaders and religiously affiliated environmental advocates urging the EPA to strengthen its ambient air quality standards, also known as soot.
Over 200 Faith Leaders To Gather In Decatur Next Week To Consider Climate Resiliency in Georgia
DECATUR, Ga. — Over 200 faith leaders and environmental advocates will gather next Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Decatur, Georgia for a Green Team Summit on climate resiliency hosted by Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL). This day-long event is designed to provide attendees with practical insights for cultivating climate resilience in their local communities and building a resilient democracy by advocating for environmentally just policies statewide.
Georgia Public Service Commission Decides Vogtle’s Final Cost to Ratepayers
ATLANTA — Today the Georgia Public Service Commission held a final vote on how much Georgia Power will charge billpayers for Plant Vogtle construction costs after meaningful involvement from all intervenors. While customers will be on the hook for $7.562 billion in project construction costs, the commission agreed to many pro-consumer terms supported by Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE), Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), and other consumer advocate groups.
Adamah Launches Adamah ATL, in partnership with Georgia Interfaith Power and Light
ATLANTA — Adamah, North America’s leading Jewish environmental organization, is launching Adamah ATL, a regional community impact hub. In partnership with Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), and with the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Adamah ATL will mobilize the local Atlanta community around Adamah’s areas of national programming while leveraging GIPL’s expertise engaging faith communities in practical climate solutions and advocacy in Georgia.
Georgia Interfaith Power and Light Announces $57,000 in Energy Efficiency Grants to Congregations
DECATUR, Ga. — Environmental nonprofit, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), has awarded $57,000 in matching grants to 20 faith communities in Georgia to reduce energy consumption on their campuses next year. As part of their larger Power-Wise program, these grants, of up to $7,000 per congregation, are designed to help faith communities lower their carbon footprint by reducing the amount of energy they consume.
Faith Leaders Rally for Protection of the Okefenokee
FOLKSTON, Ga. — Representatives from Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant faith communities across Georgia gathered at the Okefenokee Swamp Wednesday, Dec. 6 for a prayer vigil, urging lawmakers to enact House-Bill 71, “The Okefenokee Protection Act," as part of their upcoming legislative session.
Historic Federal Investment in Official Georgia Marine Mammal
DECATUR, Ga. —The United States Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced this week $82 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding to protect North Atlantic Right Whales, Georgia's official marine mammal. This is part of a $2.6 billion dollar framework the Biden-Harris Administration has proposed to invest in coastal resilience.
Georgia Power settles with SELC on Vogtle’s final cost to ratepayers
ATLANTA — Today the Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) and Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE), agreed to settlement terms with Georgia Power that will offset rate increases from Plant Vogtle construction costs and provide additional much-needed bill relief for seniors and lower-income Georgians.
A Record Number of Environmental Advocates Support EPA Plan to Cut Carbon Pollution
DECATUR, Ga — A record number of environmental advocates in Georgia submitted comments supporting the proposed plan by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cut greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power plants. In total, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL), a state table partner of the Climate Action Campaign, reports 661 Georgians, including 29 faith leaders, added their names to the federal register prioritizing public health and the planet. This is just a small fraction of the one million comments submitted nationwide.
Columbus, Georgia To Host Inaugural Green Team Summit
COLUMBUS, Ga — Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) will host their first Columbus Green Team Summit at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Saturday, September 30, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This Green Team Summit is an opportunity for faith leaders, local officials, and environmental activists across middle Georgia to come together to address the effects of global warming on the community. The theme: Greening Our Faith.
Georgia Public Service Commission drops plan to burn tires for energy
ATLANTA—Today the Georgia Public Service Commission agreed to drop plans to allow biomass plants in Georgia to burn scrap tires for electricity.
“We appreciate the commission’s open-mindedness and willingness to give this issue the additional consideration that it warrants,” said SELC Senior Attorney Jennifer Whitfield. “Today’s decision gives Georgians a chance to share their positions and learn more about why utilities burning tires for energy would be a move backward —not forward.”
Druid Hills Presbyterian Church Goes Solar!
ATLANTA —After passing their final Georgia Power Witness Test last month, Druid Hills Presbyterian Church (DHPC) has officially gone solar! With the help of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), DHPC installed 117 panels on their roof. These panels each generate 440 watts of power and will offset the church utilities bills by 26 percent, producing an estimated 73,000 kWh in their first year of use.
Georgia Power continues to raise customer bills in fuel docket decision
ATLANTA —Today the Georgia Public Service Commission issued a decision in Georgia Power’s fuel docket case, which adopted over 99.5% of Georgia Power’s requests, as approved by the Commission’s Public Interest Advocacy Staff before receiving any input from the public.
GIPL Celebrates 20 Years at Annual Green Team Summit
DECATUR, Ga. — Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) is celebrating 20 years of environmental justice in the state at its annual Green Team Summit on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2023, at Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs, Georgia. The Summit will feature an exclusive interview with Chandra Farley, the newly appointed Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Atlanta, as well as a keynote by Karen Bigelow, Co-Executive Director of the national climate nonprofit, Creation Justice Ministries.