Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024
Good morning! We have trees on our minds this morning with a report on the state of Coastal Georgia’s canopy from Tybee to St. Marys. We also have a fact check on the Bryan County Hyundai plant and its connection to controversial climate legislation.
This is the final Coast Watch newsletter of 2024, though The Current will be staying in touch over the holiday week with four special edition newsletters. Thanks for reading. See you in 2025!
Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org
FACT CHECK: ENVIRONMENT
Hyundai and the IRA
The Hyundai Metaplant has benefited greatly from state and local incentives, but federal money? Not so much, at least not directly, Metaplant spokespersons say.
The Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden’s signature climate law, offers incentives for EV buyers and manufacturers alike. And it was signed into law in 2022 just months after the Hyundai project was announced. So it’s easy to see why IRA money gets conflated with state and local funds.
But as The Current’s Mary Landers reports, Hyundai spokespersons say that’s not the case, at least not yet.
NEWS:ENVIRONMENT
Coastal tree canopy dwindles
Coastal Georgia’s tree canopy shrunk slightly from 2010-2019, according to Georgia Tech researcher Tony Giarrusso, who analyzed aerial photos to calculate a coastwide loss of 1.6%. The good news is that much of the coast is blanketed in timberland, which cycles through episodes of significant gain and loss. The bad news is that residential commercial and industrial development has heated up since 2019 and more tree loss is on the horizon.
The nonprofit Savannah Tree Foundation is responding to what it calls “tree equity” with a program to plant trees where they’re most needed, as The Current’s Mary Landers reports.
Just one thing
This week’s tip for personal environmental action comes from reader Jim Kielt, facilities manager of the Golden Isles Duplicate Bridge Club: “In addition to normal recycling efforts, we have a container for our 150+ members to dispose of their batteries,” he wrote. “It is prominently placed on the kitchen sink ledge and members bring their old batteries for recycling. One of our members then brings the old batteries to Interstate Battery in Brunswick for proper recycling when the container is full.”
Batteries+ Bulbs stores also recycle batteries for a fee, which varies by location.
Also noted
- Judge Lisa Godbey Wood recused herself from the case Brunswick v. Honeywell International, which involves the LCP Superfund site. The case was reassigned to Chief District Judge R. Stan Baker.
- Southern Alliance for Clean Energy visits with a Savannah school bus driver whose vehicle is electric in this blog. The Savannah-Chatham was awarded $9.8 million in federal grants to purchase 25 electric buses and build a charging station next to the school bus yard.
- FEMA will close the Disaster Recovery Center at Savannah Technical College on Dec. 19. The center was opened in response to Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene. Residents may apply for assistance online until Jan. 7, 2025 at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or by calling 1-800-621-3362. The telephone line is available daily, and support is offered in multiple languages. For info on eligibility requirements, visit fema.gov/assistance/individual/program/eligibility.
- Sign-up is open for the DNR 2025 Youth Birding Competition. Teams of kindergarteners through high-schoolers will pick a 24-hour stretch during a nine-day span and compete by age group to find the most birds statewide before 5 p.m. April 12. Teams can register for the free event here. The deadline to enter is March 15.
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Research: Coastal Georgia is losing tree canopy
Canopy loss for the six counties was less than 2% from 2010-2019, but development has since boomed.
Spokesman: Hyundai Metaplant hasn’t benefitted directly from climate law
The Inflation Reduction Act didn’t directly benefit the Bryan County Hyundai Metaplant, at least not yet.
Federal prosecutors file suit against Brunswick for attempts to close The Well
Since 2022 the city has tried to limit homeless services offered at The Well after an intense lobby campaign from downtown business owners,
Ethics board recommends complaint against Chatham district attorney be dismissed
State Ethics Commission recommends dismissing campaign finance complaint lodged against Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones. She filed necessary paperwork, following complaint by a Savannah attorney.
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