Category Archives: Stephanie Benfield

City of Atlanta Preparing to Embrace Solar Panels

stephanie and natalyn

(APN) ATLANTA — After years of inaction because solar panels were deemed unfeasible, the City of Atlanta appears on the verge of possibly implementing a new solar power plan.   Former State Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (D-Atlanta), director of Atlanta’s Office of Sustainability, told Atlanta Progressive News that she’s working with various departments to finalize a plan to install solar […]

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Georgia Cities Maintain Right to Ban Plastic Bags, Despite Legislative Efforts

plastic bags

(APN) ATLANTA — The plastic bag lobby was active in Georgia this Legislative Session, but despite its influence, a bill to prohibit municipalities from banning plastic bags ultimately failed.   Underlying the legislative push was a proposed ordinance to ban plastic bags in Tybee Island, Georgia.   Supporters of the ban say that plastic bags are increasingly being ingested by […]

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Georgia Would Disband Soil and Water Conservation Agency, per Gov. Deal’s Budget

GWSCC

(APN) ATLANTA — Governor Nathan Deal wants to disband an environmental agency that is almost 80 years old and includes a statewide network of 370 volunteer conservationists.   The Governor’s budget report for FY 2016 recommends transferring all funding and operations from the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC), to two other state agencies, in order to “consolidate soil […]

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DeKalb’s Oldest Oak Tree Faces Developer’s Removal Request

tree

Photograph by Judy Conder (APN) ATLANTA — A 2.54 acre empty lot in Atlanta’s Kirkwood community at 145 Norwood Avenue is home to some of DeKalb County’s oldest and largest white oak trees, including one that is believed to be the oldest in the county, possibly the state.  Now, the tree and its sister trees face a developers’ removal request, […]

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(IPS) Southern US States Inch Towards Renewable Energy

This article first appeared on the Inter-Press service website at: http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/10/southern-u-s-states-inch-towards-renewable-energy/ ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct 29 2012 (IPS) – With the U.S. East Coast virtually shutting down Monday with the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, the broader debate over transitioning to cleaner energy sources and slowing, if not halting, climate change is taking on ever greater urgency. While some parts of the […]

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Benfield to Leave Legislature, Was Paired with Incumbent

By Shane Patrick Cunningham, Special to The Atlanta Progressive News.   (APN) ATLANTA — State Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (D-Decatur) announced on February 22, 2012, that she would not be running for reelection this year and that she would begin serving as Executive Director of GreenLaw. Benfield is one of twelve Democratic legislators, in addition to eight Republican legislators, who […]

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