Rick Jackson
Would approve new data centers only with local support, no rise in local utility costs and strict environmental standards.
Back to the race record
Issue record
Environment
In short
Jackson's campaign would require local support, no higher utility costs and strict environmental standards for new data centers; Bottoms' would fund flood control and brownfield cleanup and slow data center growth. Bottoms testified on heat to a House committee in 2021, and on flooding and tree loss to a Senate Democrats' panel in 2019. Atlanta adopted a clean energy plan in 2019; its 2035 goal predates her, and her office proposed moving it to 2050.
Campaign positions
What each campaign says.
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Would invest in flood control and brownfield cleanup, and slow the fast growth of data centers.
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Evidence timeline
What the record shows.
official action
Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim
She testified on heat to a House climate committee in 2021; her warnings on flooding and tree loss came in 2019, to a Senate Democrats' panel, not a formal committee.
Full detail
Her campaign says she testified before Congress on climate change in Atlanta, warning about flooding, extreme heat and loss of tree cover. As mayor she testified to the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on June 11, 2021, and answered a question there about urban heat. In 2019 she told the Senate Democrats' climate panel about extreme heat, flooding and Atlanta losing 14% of its native tree species. Limit: At the 2021 House hearing she spoke about heat. Her warnings about flooding and tree loss were in 2019 testimony to a Senate Democrats' panel, not a formal Senate committee.
official action
Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction
The city adopted the Clean Energy Atlanta plan in 2019 with an advisory board, but the 2035 goal predates her, and the plan says her office proposed moving it to 2050.
Full detail
Her campaign says she advanced Clean Energy Atlanta, a plan for 100% clean energy by 2035, and set up a Clean Energy Advisory Board. The city adopted the Clean Energy Atlanta plan in March 2019. It includes a letter from her and says the city will form an advisory board. The mayor's sustainability office lists board meetings from March 18, 2021. Limit: The 100% by 2035 goal came from a council resolution on May 1, 2017, before she took office. The plan itself says her office recommended moving the citywide target to 2050.
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Sources10 source records
- The Jackson Action Plan (document)
Jackson for Governor, Inc. · Published Sep 4, 2026 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026
Nine pages, linked from his action plan page. The file was made on Sept. 4, 2026. Adds his Medicaid expansion plan, tax cuts on tips and energy, and data center standards. sha256 562e6ee30e68.
candidate statement
For: Rick Jackson: campaign position
- Keisha for Governor, issueshttps://www.keishaforgovernor.com/issues
Keisha for Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026
Captured 2026-09-23. Her platform, in ten sections.
candidate statement
For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: campaign position
- Keisha for Governor, track record: environment and healthhttps://www.keishaforgovernor.com/issues/small-business
Keisha for Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026
Captured 2026-09-23. The detail page behind the environment item on her track record page. The site files it at /issues/small-business.
candidate statement
For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim; Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction
- Building Climate Resilient Communities, hearing of June 11, 2021https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=112748
U.S. House of Representatives, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis · Published Jun 11, 2021 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026
The committee's hearing page. Lists "The Honorable Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor of the City of Atlanta" as a witness, with her testimony and biography.
official legislative record
For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim
- Building Climate Resilient Communities, hearing transcript (Serial No. 117-5)https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CHRG-117hhrg45197
U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published Jun 11, 2021 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026
The printed record of the June 11, 2021 hearing. On page 40 Rep. Huffman asks the mayors about the urban heat island effect, and she answers that Atlanta is studying it with Spelman College and Georgia Tech. Her oral statement also covers asthma and poor air quality. She does not mention flooding or trees. sha256 537158e0da82.
official legislative record
For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim
- Testimony of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis (document)
U.S. House of Representatives · Published Jun 11, 2021 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026
Her two-page written statement. Covers clean energy goals and asks Congress for direct aid to cities. It does not mention flooding, heat or trees; she spoke about heat at the hearing itself (house-climate-hearing-transcript-2021). sha256 fe9bb15e1c1d.
official legislative record
For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim
- Testimony of Keisha Lance Bottoms, Senate Special Committee on the Climate Crisis (document)
Senate Democrats · Published Jul 17, 2019 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026
Her written testimony as mayor, nine pages, dated July 17, 2019. Covers extreme heat, the loss of 14% of Atlanta's native tree species, and flooding. The panel was set up by Senate Democrats; it was not a committee of the Senate, so this is not a record of Congress. sha256 f5a1bc00b0e3.
official office record
For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim
- Clean Energy Atlanta, the planhttps://www.100atl.com/cleanenergyatlanta
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Sustainability and Resilience · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026
Says the city adopted Clean Energy Atlanta in March 2019, and that a May 1, 2017 council resolution set the 100% clean energy goal and told the mayor's office to write the plan.
official office record
For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction
- Clean Energy Atlanta: A Vision for a 100% Clean Energy Future (document)
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Resilience · Published Feb 13, 2019 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026
The plan, linked from the sustainability office's site. Opens with a letter from Mayor Bottoms, recommends that the city form an advisory board, and recommends moving the citywide 100% target from 2035 to 2050. sha256 dc05bd2081db.
official office record
For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction
- Climate Resilience Advisory Boardhttps://www.100atl.com/advisory-board
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Sustainability and Resilience · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026
Says the board grew out of the Clean Energy Advisory Board. Lists meetings from March 18, 2021.
official office record
For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction