Southern Energy Network

As a part of revamping their state network, Georgia Youth for Environmental Solutions (GaYES) is spearheading a training tour- and it started last weekend. 

The program, the first of its kind, seeks to polish the teaching skills of environmental organizers across Georgia to travel to different environmental groups around the state and give trainings in different grassroots organizing principles and skill sets. Campuses like Valdosta, the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Pope High School, and Walton High School have already indicated interest in being trained. 

By: Bakari Pace, SEN Summer Fellow

The Florida campaign for Student Green Energy Funds (SGEF) at state universities scored a major victory this past semester. At the University of South Florida (USF,) students voted to implement a SGEF on their campus next fall. A SGEF is a small per credit hour fee that is then spent on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on campus. At USF specifically, students voted to enact the fee at $1.00 per credit hour. This will make the fee the first of its type in Florida, and one of the only truly democratic fee structures in the state.

by: Jenna Garland

On Thursday, May 26, US EPA held one of three national public hearings on its proposed mercury pollution regulation, which will be the first time mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants have been regulated in the United States.

Southern Energy Network partnered with multiple organizations to help turn folks out to the event and recruit individuals to testify, and it worked! More than 100 people testified to EPA staff during the hearing, and the vast majority of those testifying were there in support of the mercury regulations.

by: Michelle Hindman, Southern Energy Network Fellow

Yesterday the SEN fellows kicked off the summer No Coal Campaign by going door to door in Jenkinsburg, GA to talk to Central Georgia EMC members about the coal-fired power plant proposal that will likely raise their electric rates significantly.