Georgia Governor Brian Kemp made a decisive pitch for clean energy this Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. As the Peach State positions itself as a powerhouse for electric vehicle production, Kemp emphasized the urgent need to ramp up electricity generation from non-fossil fuel sources, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. "We’ve done as much as anybody in the country... but we’re going to have to have more," Kemp said, without advocating for the shutdown of current coal, oil, or natural gas plants.
Kemp is actively promoting Georgia's infrastructure and energy capabilities, including the construction of two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle, which stand as the nation's first in decades. These initiatives are set to not only to solidify the state's identity as an e-mobility leader but also to attract global businesses seeking sustainable manufacturing practices. Despite electric vehicle sales seeing a recent decline, Kemp remains bullish on Georgia's industry prospects, blaming a Biden-backed law for trying "to push the market too quick," a sentiment he shared during an interview with FOX 5 Atlanta.
During his appearance at Davos, Kemp was joined by industry leaders who echoed the necessity for clean energy in EV production. Among them was Zeng Yuqun, chairman of CATL, China's battery juggernaut, who stated that a "dirty battery" is "big trouble," according to U.S. News & World Report.
However, Kemp's recruitment initiatives are eyed warily by environmentalists who criticize Georgia Power's proposed increase in capacity heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The governor nonetheless hinges on Southern Co., the Atlanta-based parent of Georgia Power, to answer the state's clean energy call. "Talking to the companies that we’re recruiting, people that are looking to the state, they obviously want to produce with clean energy," Kemp told the audience at Davos, as reported by U.S. News & World Report. Alongside the energy challenge, securing sufficient workforce remains a "big thing for us," Kemp reported during the event.
