JD Vance Heads to Georgia as Trump’s Affordability Crisis Worsens

Atlanta, GA  –  Later today, Vice President JD Vance will be speaking in Athens, Georgia in an attempt to defend Trump’s disastrous, failing second term. While he tries to spin Georgians and convince them that the worsening affordability crisis is actually good for hardworking Georgia families, the truth couldn’t be more painful to their pocketbooks.

Since Trump launched his war of choice with Iran, Georgia’s gas prices have spiked 36%. And to make matters worse for Georgia farmers, the price of fertilizer has increased as much as 35%. These alarming numbers don’t even account for the impacts of the first year of Trump’s war on clean energy. To date, Trump’s attacks on clean energy led to eight clean energy projects in Georgia being canceled or delayed, resulting in 3,492 lost jobs and nearly $4 billion in lost investment. It’s no wonder that Georgia’s residential gas prices have increased by more than 19%, and electricity prices have increased by more than 7%.

Climate Power Georgia State Director Mark McLaurin issued the following statement: “While JD Vance peddles Trump’s failing agenda, hardworking Georgia families are living the reality of their reckless decisions. The numbers don’t lie: gas prices up 36%, electricity bills up 7%, and nearly 3,500 jobs gone. No amount of spin from Vance can erase the pain Georgians are feeling at the pump, on their utility bills, and at the grocery store. Trump’s war, his big oil backers, and his attacks on clean energy have made life more expensive for Georgia families. Republicans have no one to blame but themselves.”

So we have a few questions for Vice President Vance:

1. On Sunday, Trump acknowledged that gas prices could be even higher by the fall despite gas prices having risen by more than 30% since he started the war in Iran. What is the administration’s plan to meaningfully stop the bleeding at the pump?

2. Residential gas prices have increased by more than 19%, and electricity prices have already skyrocketed by more than 7% since 2024 in Georgia, and utility companies have proposed even more rate hikes. Since last year, these rate hikes and proposed rate hikes have totaled more than $1.2 billion. Does your Administration have a plan to meaningfully address the utility affordability crisis Georgians are facing? 

3. Trump has repeatedly said he will ensure the country is “energy dominant.” Yet, the administration has seen 365 clean energy projects canceled or delayed, $61.41 billion in clean energy investment stalled, and 180,000 clean energy jobs frozen. Georgia itself has seen eight projects canceled or laying off staff, and nearly $4 billion in investment stalled. How is this making Georgia more energy dominant? 

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