Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Good morning! We have news today on the ongoing debate about the energy needs of data centers. From there we make a big pivot to human composting legislation, which needs only the governor’s signature to become an option in Georgia. Finally, we offer a primer from state wildlife experts on how to handle yourself if you encounter one of Georgia’s 47 species of snakes.
Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org
NEWS: ENVIRONMENT
Data center energy debate
Georgia Power is in the process of getting approval for its latest plan to meet future energy demands, as Stanley Dunlap of the Georgia Recorder reports. The company forecasts 8,000 megawatts of growth through the early 2030s, much of that from an explosion of data centers. To meet burgeoning energy needs, the state’s largest utility proposes sticking longer with plants fired by coal, which worsens air pollution and global warming. Protesters decry Georgia Power’s plan, citing concerns about the financial and environmental impact of large data facilities.
Speaking of energy sources, to see how Georgia is faring on utility scale renewable energy projects, check out Global Renewables Watch, an atlas that maps and measures all utility-scale solar and onshore wind installations on Earth.
NEWS: LEGISLATURE
Environmental ending
Embalming and cremation pose significant environmental consequences, from chemicals leaking into the ground to carbon dioxide warming the planet. But Georgia is poised to have a new, greener end-of-life option. The General Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill that makes human composting legal, as Ty Tagami of Capitol Beat reports.
To learn more about human composting, read this report from NPR.
EXPLAINER: ENVIRONMENT
Give snakes some space
Georgia is home to 47 species of snakes, seven of which are venomous. But only one – the copperhead – usually thrives in suburban areas where they’re most likely to encounter people. Still, with warmer weather arriving, snakes are on the move. If you’re looking for advice on how to behave if you encounter one, the Department of Natural Resources’ Daniel Sollenberger has you covered:
- If a clearly identified venomous snake is in an area where it represents a danger to people or pets, visit georgiawildlife.com/preventing-wildlife-conflicts for a list of private wildlife removal specialists.
- Most bites occur when a snake is cornered or captured and defending itself. Do not attempt to handle the snake. Give it the space it needs.
- You can try to identify it from a distance. Resources such as georgiawildlife.com/georgiasnakes can help.
- Remember that snakes feed on small mammals, amphibians, insects and even other snakes. There is no need to fear nonvenomous snakes. Also, Georgia’s nonvenomous species are protected by state law. One – the eastern indigo – is even federally protected.
Just one thing
This week’s tip for personal environmental action comes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service. It suggests making smart seafood choices by checking a site such as FishWatch to learn more about how seafood is sourced. For example, Georgia’s official state crustacean, the white shrimp, gets high marks:
“U.S. wild-caught white shrimp is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations,” it states.
Send “just one thing” you do as part of your personal environmental action plan to mary.landers@thecurrentga.org. We’ll publish our favorites and credit the contributors.
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Georgia Power’s 2025 plan faces scrutiny over data centers’ energy consumption
Georgia Power has proposed a 10-year plan to meet the growing energy demands of a booming Georgia, including a resource mix of renewable solar storage facilities, natural gas, coal, and hydropower plants, while also addressing concerns about the financial and environmental impact of large data facilities.
Legislature passes bill to compost corpses
Senate Bill 241, which would regulate the alternative method of human composting for the disposal of the dead, has passed the Georgia House of Representatives with a near unanimous vote and is on its way to Gov. Brian Kemp.
Tariff threat casts shadow over Hyundai’s plant-opening party in Bryan County
Hyundai’s top executives and Georgia’s top Republicans celebrated the opening of the company’s manufacturing plant in Ellabell, but failed to mention the looming threat of tariffs that could postpone plans to produce electronic vehicles there.
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