The Green New Deal Benefits Working People in the Peach State

The Green New Deal (GND) — a federal policy plan for unprecedented climate action, a national jobs guarantee, stronger collective bargaining rights, retirement security benefits, universal healthcare, and affordable housing construction — has lost significant momentum in the wake of the 2024 presidential election. Many, however, have not abandoned the idea. In northern Georgia, local government officials and DeKalb County residents have begun implementing GND programs to achieve a low-carbon future while saving taxpayers money. 

Ted Terry, Super District Six commissioner and DeKalb Green New Deal lead advocate, took office in 2020 after spending a significant part of his campaign championing a GND for DeKalb. In 2021, after rigorous deliberation, DeKalb’s local government adopted a resolution in support of a GND. The plan included installing solar panels on homes and government buildings, energy-efficiency retrofits for homes, and expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure. 

Since holding office, Commissioner Terry and his team have passed 20 climate action policies, resolutions, and initiatives as part of the DeKalb GND. 

To add momentum to his initiative, Commissioner Terry organized a 2023 DeKalb GND event during which he presented his plan to power DeKalb on 100 percent renewable energy. Terry spoke passionately to the crowd, explaining that the DeKalb GND “seeks to tackle the dual crises of climate change and economic inequality.” He addressed how the GND will benefit DeKalb residents, saying: “...we can create good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced, revitalize our communities and neighborhoods, and improve our overall public and environmental health.” 

Today, DeKalb’s GND initiative is still in full swing. In May of 2025, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved the DeKalb County 100% Clean Energy and Transportation Transition Plan. Thus, Terry’s vision for clean energy and clean transportation by 2050 became official policy after four years of advocacy. “Going green is also saving green. We can save the Earth and save money. In fact, it is the responsible thing we must do,” Terry said after the plan’s approval.

Terry explained in an interview with Run On Climate how the DeKalb GND merges climate policy and working-class benefits. For instance, he mentioned that solar arrays have produced cheaper, cleaner energy for DeKalb residents, raised property values in the area, and generated new tax revenues that the local government has used to fund local schools. 

Terry proudly shared that local clean energy development has created new jobs, and that the DeKalb GND is “ supporting and building up new industries. Those industries require training, curricula, and ultimately, you are going to need people to do them.”

Speaking on renewable energy, Terry said, “Sometimes I just want to call it ‘American’ energy,” as developing the nation’s renewable energy supply would create jobs at home and reduce the likelihood of outsourcing oil processing and distribution to other countries. 

By merging working-class interests — such as better-paying jobs and lower energy bills — with environmental policy goals, the DeKalb GND initiative has achieved remarkable success. Other local governments and municipalities can look to the DeKalb GND for inspiration and strive to implement similar policies that make sense for their communities. The DeKalb GND demonstrates hope for a sustainable future by showing that Americans have not given up the fight to mitigate climate change and reduce inequality, even as the federal government actively abandons a climate-forward agenda.