From the Pastor

Clean Energy Community Vision Project

The following information is coming to you from Cary Ruth Greear Ritzler, daughter of Delbert and Nancy Greear, who works for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a national nonprofit advocacy group, and who is intimately aware of the values of Nacoochee Presbyterian Church, as she grew up among us.

Please review the article and make me aware of your interest if you are willing to participate in the pilot program suggested below.

~Teresa

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) is bringing communities together from all around the Southeast to build a future where we all have clean air and water, comfortable, healthy homes, energy bills we can afford, and good jobs so our communities can prosper. A new law passed in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act, puts billions of dollars towards transitioning our homes and communities to clean and renewable energy. These programs will allow all of us–no matter where we live or how much is in our wallets–to get clean energy from the sun, keep our houses comfortable and healthy, and lower our bills so our families can thrive. It also has the potential to bring good-paying jobs in the clean energy economy to communities around the Southeast. It is time to dream big about what our future can look like.

We are inviting Nacoochee Presbyterian Church to pilot a program to help people envision a clean energy future in the mountains of North Georgia, set goals to achieve a just and equitable transition to clean energy, and work together to make it happen in a manner that fits with the unique needs of the community. We plan to implement this program throughout our region–in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. As more communities join, we hope to help people connect around the region who are working towards common goals to share ideas and learn together. By participating in a pilot program, NPC could then help lead and guide other communities or congregations to undertake the same work.

With new resources from the IRA, and growing consensus that a rapid transition to clean and renewable energy is necessary for a safe climate future, we are at the beginning of an exciting journey together–it’s like nothing we’ve done before. We need to know which way to go to make sure each of us gets what we need–but we can’t make a map until we know the destination. It’s up to you to decide: What does your community look like when everyone has access to healthy air and comfort in their homes, clean water, and neighborhoods that are safe from the bad effects of pollution? What do you already have that you can build on, and what needs exist in your community that clean energy and climate investments can help meet? Who needs to be involved in planning and making decisions about major investments coming to your town?

If you are interested in helping to lead this initiative, please identify yourself to Pastor Teresa so that a meeting can be planned to begin the process. We can work together to establish a shared vision for a clean energy future in Northeast Georgia.