HR 946: State of Georgia; economic leadership and recognizing the importance of transparent, informed decision making; commend

House Resolution 946

By: Representatives Buckner of the 137th and Oliver of the 84th

A RESOLUTION

Commending the State of Georgia for its economic leadership and recognizing the importance of transparent, informed decision making; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has been recognized as the No. 1 state in the nation in which to do business for 11 consecutive years, a testament to its strategic use of natural, human, and infrastructure resources; and

WHEREAS, Georgia is richly blessed with abundant water resources, the availability and wise use of which are vital to the state's public health, economic well-being, and continued capacity for growth; and

WHEREAS, this economic success has been made possible through the informed stewardship of these finite resources by citizens and their representative governments, a balance that must continue to be nurtured to preserve and enhance prosperity for future generations; and

WHEREAS, Georgia's continued economic success and future development will require careful planning for increased energy demand, and it is essential that such planning avoid imposing undue burdens on current consumers or compromising existing services; and

WHEREAS, for facilities with high resource demands—such as those requiring extensive energy or water use—it is important to consider not only utility infrastructure but also the cumulative impact on surrounding communities, including noise and other environmental factors; and

WHEREAS, members of the Georgia General Assembly regularly receive extensive information in the course of their duties, and while the volume can at times exceed what is readily absorbed, these materials form a critical foundation for representing constituent interests, particularly in support of local government decision making; and

WHEREAS, legislators are frequently made aware of and are able to solicit additional information on subjects of local interest with more ease than their constituents—an advantage that can be wisely employed to the advantage of those affected interests; and

WHEREAS, a recent example of the need for such transparent information-sharing is the growing number of high-tech data centers proposed in diverse locations across the state, many of which require large quantities of water and electricity, placing significant demands on local utilities and public infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, ensuring the timely release of accurate, factual information about the projected economic, employment, fiscal, land use, natural resource, and public utility service impacts of such developments is essential to empowering elected officials and the public to make informed decisions during limited and critical windows of opportunity.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend the State of Georgia for its continued nationwide leadership in economic development and recognize the necessity of balancing progress with the responsible stewardship of natural and infrastructural resources. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.