WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS BELOW
Karla Drenner addresses
energy policies in Georgia
by Terrance Kelly
 State Representative Karla Drenner (District 86) focused on energy issues at her June community breakfast meeting. Drenner, some of her constituents and representatives from DeKalb Technical College met at the Clarkston Women’s Club on June 27.
As President Barack Obama works to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil, Drenner is addressing energy issues at the state level.
“Not everyone believes this is a top issue to address,” Drenner said. “They have other issues that are important to them. We need someone to champion energy as their number one issue.”
Drenner may have found an ally, the recently established Green Technologies Academy at DeKalb Technical College. In the midst of budget cuts and staff layoffs, DTC will begin teaching courses in its model green curriculum in the fall.
DTC students meeting academy requirements will receive a Technical Certificate of Credit, as well as a Green Stamp. There are five core courses: green concepts, green living, green buildings, green technologies, and green communications. Courses for specific majors include hybrid vehicles/fuel cells for the automotive program, and wind power generation and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for students studying electronics.
“We’re looking for DeKalb Tech to be a model for the rest of the state,” said Brian Lovell, director, Green Technologies Academy. “Everyone’s aware energy costs will increase, and we need to deal with that fact. The technology is here.”
Courses in the Green Technologies Academy are also offered in DTC’s building automation systems program and commercial refrigeration program. The 48-year-old technical college is the first to offer these programs to Georgia college students, and these programs to unique to the southeastern states.
“We’re looking for a balanced approach for energy problems in our country,” Drenner said. “I don’t think one way is going to address all of our problems. There are lots of ways to save energy, but Georgia doesn’t have mandates for any of these.”
Drenner is a supporter of Renewable Portfolio Standards, or policies mandating a state to generate a percent of its electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, solar biomass, geothermal, and other forms.
“I think issues become important in the legislature when they become of concern to the general population,” Drenner explained. “Some legislators just won’t address an issue unless it’s of popular public concern. Cities can be the leaders in this. Local efforts will motivate and influence policies to address energy problems.”
Drenner offered suggestions for individuals interested in preserving energy. These include, turning off computers at night, removing electric chargers from outlets when not in use, buying energy saving light bulbs, riding a bike or taking public transportation to work. Even the installation of a low-flow toilet such as the one recently installed in the Clarkston Women’s Club, would help, she said.
“Active e-mailers, become active with other legislators,” Drenner recommended. “Know the chair of the various committees and contact them about specific bills you are interested in the committee addressing.”
Drenner said she recognizes the energy problem is a massive one to take on by a few citizens, but she remains determined.
“It’s not easy to tackle this problem,” she admits. “It’s far reaching, but we have to start somewhere.”
For more information about energy conservation and energy news, visit www.alternativeenergy.com and www.renewableenergy.com.
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