Dr. Preeti Jaggi, pediatrician at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and member of MOCA partner organization Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action, recently published this op-ed in Decaturish.

Dear Decaturish,

If you care about climate change, this is the year that your VOTE can count more than you may know. Why? Because the Public Service Commissioners (PSC) have a three-pronged job: to ensure that Georgians have access to safe, affordably priced, and reliable electricity. And we know the burning of fossil fuels is NOT SAFE for humans.

In return for their regulation, you don’t get to decide who your electricity provider is. For most of us in Georgia, it is Georgia Power. They have a monopoly, but it is regulated by the PSC.

Why is this important? Because Georgia Power right now is asking for MORE coal and gas infrastructure, which costs more than renewable energy. If you care about climate change and are following what science is telling us, it is that climate change is hurting us and is not safe. It is causing more severe storms, supply chain shortages, drought, asthma, hunger, heart attacks, babies to be born premature, and our kids are getting increasingly concerned about climate change. It even makes your seasonal allergies worse because of higher pollen counts.

If you care about climate change, here is your homework.

1. The current commissioners are actually planning our electricity for the next 15–20 years RIGHT NOW. You can use this link to take 5 minutes to make a comment about wanting clean, renewable energy that is actually more affordable.

2. Take a pledge to vote in this year’s election and PAY ATTENTION to the election. Anyone in Georgia can VOTE in this election! Over the past few years, several Decatur high school students and residents have spoken to the commission about the importance of clean energy. This year, send your voice loud and clear, VOTE!

Sincerely,

Preeti Jaggi