Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026
Good morning! Today we have a peek at a new nature preserve and the young man responsible for creating it just two miles from the planned Open AI data center. We then check in on the hiring progress at EV manufacturer Hyundai. Finally, we take a look at electric bills that have been soaring along with summer temperatures.
Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org
FEATURE: ENVIRONMENT
16 acres of nature
Rincon native Isaiah Scott founded the nonprofit Rookery and Roots Conservancy in Effingham County to protect local wildlife and celebrate his Gullah Geechee heritage, as The Current GA’s Kelley Lu reports. Now he’s creating a 16-acre nature preserve amidst the rapid growth of warehouses and a planned $20 billion OpenAI data center nearby.
He’s already identified rare amphibian species on the property as well as scores of different types of birds, his specialty ever since he got his first pair of biomculars at 13. Scott plans to open the preserve for educational tours in 2027 to foster environmental stewardship among youth.
ANALYSIS: BUSINESS
Hyundai’s hiring progress
Two years into its operation, Hyundai’s massive electric vehicle plant in Coastal Georgia has hired more than half of its promised 8,500 employees, The Current GA’s Kelley Lu reports. But while Hyundai is exceeding its original employment targets, several of its nearby suppliers receiving state subsidies are lagging behind their recruitment goals. Despite this slower progress from some partners, state officials maintain that the multibillion-dollar investment is successfully driving economic transformation across the region.
ANALYSIS: ENVIRONMENT
It’s costly to stay cool
High electricity bills and rising temperatures have led to significant disconnection rates at Georgia Power, as Ryan Kruger of Inside Climate News reports. Rising costs from infrastructure projects have left many customers unable to afford cooling, leading to food spoilage and work disruptions. While the utility maintains certain heat-related protections, vulnerable individuals on deferred payment plans remain at risk of losing power as climate change intensifies.
Also noted
The Coastal Permitting Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Georgia Tech’s Savannah Campus, 210 Technology Circle, Savannah. The 19-member committee advises the Coastal Georgia Regional Water Planning Council. Membership includes the Ogeechee and Savannah Riverkeepers as well as representatives from forestry, agriculture and the state’s largest monopoly utility, Georgia Power. To attend this meeting virtually, please contact the Georgia Water Planning & Policy Center by e-mail (info@h2opolicycenter.org) for more information.
One Hundred Miles and the Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund are sponsoring an Effingham County Data Center Town Hall from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 14, at the Mars Theater, 106 S. Laurel St., Springfield. On stage will be Public Service Commissioners Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson to discuss how large data center projects could affect electricity bills and energy infrastructure. More information here.
The Georgia Public Service Commission is coming to Savannah. The five member panel, which usually meets in Atlanta, will hold its administrative meeting from 9:30-noon, Sept. 15 at the Chatham County Administrative Building, 124 Bull St., Savannah. There will be an opportunity for in-person public comment, limited to 3 minutes per person. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the PSC Youtube channel.
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Rookery and Roots Conservancy aims to protect wildlife 2 miles from OpenAI data center
Isaiah Scott founded the Rookery and Roots Conservancy in Effingham County to protect local wildlife and Gullah Geechee heritage amid rapid industrial development and OpenAI’s planned $20 billion data center nearby.
The cost of keeping cool: Georgia Power customers struggle with summer bills
High electricity bills and rising temperatures have led to significant disconnection rates at Georgia Power, disproportionately affecting residents like Donica Odell during extreme summer heat.
Hyundai suppliers make hiring progress in exchange for public incentives
While Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America has surpassed half of its promised 8,500 jobs, several smaller suppliers receiving state subsidies in Coastal Georgia are currently lagging behind their hiring targets.
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