Where the Candidates Stand: Josh Tolbert on Climate & Energy
Josh Tolbert, a Republican candidate for Georgia's Public Service Commission, supports data centers for their economic benefits but is wary of electricity costs being passed to residential customers. He advocates for market-based solutions over strict environmental regulations and views natural gas as the most reliable and affordable energy source. Tolbert believes nuclear power is too expensive due to federal regulations.
Josh Tolbert, a Republican candidate running to represent District 5 on the Georgia Public Service Commission, has outlined his positions on energy, climate, and data centers. Tolbert, a business owner, engineer, and educator, emphasizes market solutions and innovation over what he terms "burdensome regulations" for environmental stewardship, believing stricter laws can hurt the economy and energy independence. He supports Georgians' ability to generate distributed power, including solar, to reduce electricity prices.
Regarding data centers, Tolbert labels himself "pro-data center" due to the economic opportunities they bring to Georgia. However, he has expressed concerns about the potential for increased electricity costs, driven by data center construction, being shifted onto residential ratepayers. He stated at a December 2025 public hearing that he would "ensure costs are allocated to those who cause them — not shifted onto ratepayers." On energy sources, Tolbert considers nuclear power technology favorably but criticizes its high cost due to federal regulation, citing Plant Vogtle's expenses. He advocates for strict cost controls on future nuclear projects, ensuring overruns are borne by private investors, not ratepayers. He also identifies natural gas as the most dependable and affordable base-load source for growing electricity demand.