Sunday Solutions — Dec. 21, 2025
Good morning! We welcome Winter at 10:03 a.m. today, when the sun takes a moment and decides to head back north. Next time we see you, the day will be longer and the sun a little higher in the sky. Until then, we’ve left you some reading as we prepare for our Yuletide holidays.
Note: Our newsletter schedule will change for the holidays, starting Christmas Eve. We’ll move to Sunday and Wednesday for the following week and return to a full 5-day schedule on Jan. 4. Enjoy your holiday!
NEWS: GOVERNING
PSC allows giant Georgia Power expansion
Amid protests, shouts and contradictory recommendations, the Georgia Public Service Commission voted 5-0 to allow Georgia Power to pursue a $15 billion expansion to meet rising demand the utility says is coming from large, commercial customers. The request focused on needs expected to come from data centers and will allow the utility to build new natural gas turbines and batteries and buy energy to add 10,000 megawatts of electricity to its grid. A deal between the PSC and Georgia Power includes a promise that they’ll push rates down $8.50 a month for the average user, but that wouldn’t start until 2028 and means that any new rates would be offset by that much.
EXPLAINER: OPEN GOVERNMENT
How we report, and how you can, too
On most days, we all need a little sunshine on our path to help us decide the best route. Light’s also a necessary component for illuminating details and priorities for citizens and governments. As an accountability journalism organization, The Current‘s work often depends on government documents that underlay or verify how things work — budgets, audits, correspondence and any other item that might help citizens make informed choices as they go to the ballot box or the council meeting. Data reporter Maggie Lee has been tracking open records requests The Current‘s reporters have made since September.
By the way, public records are just that: open to all. The laws are very clear on that. We’ve included tips and links so you can make your own requests — let us know if you request documents and your results. Send a question or note to us at staff@thecurrentga.org. We want to know what you learn!
Port Wentworth defines data centers
Port Wentworth City Council voted to approve a definition of data centers last week, even though talk of the water- and energy-intensive developments drew public opposition and the city’s planning board advised against the ordinance.
Read the new definition starting on page 100 of this city council agenda, read Mary Landers’ coverage of opposition or watch a video of the Dec. 18 meeting.
Each week, reporter Maggie Lee shares a document gathered in The Current’s reportingt that tells its own story in support of government accountability.
🎉 Congratulations to Ryan for knowing that last week’s Spyglass was the front of Tabby House Brewing in Darien. We had 8 correct answers last week — let’s see how you do this week.
Test how well you spy details in Coastal Georgia. Give us the location of the item in the photo above. Some spots may be easier to identify than others; some will be tougher. We’ll collect correct answers each week and draw for a weekly winner.
CLICK HERE TO GIVE YOUR ANSWER
NEWS: UPDATES
Catching up
- Fulton County DA Fani Willis defends 2020 election case in fiery testimony before Senate panel: Prosecutor took on state legislators in a long-awaited appearance before an investigative committee. From Georgia Recorder. Watch a replay here. Meeting opens about 17 minutes in.
- DNA testing shows Golden Isles restaurants serve American shrimp: 44 restaurants were tested, 43 served local catch, and all were honest about the sources. From The Current‘s Mary Landers.
- Recording reveals Trump pressured Georgia House Speaker to overturn 2020 results: A new recording shows presidential pressure to get a different end to Georgia’s 2020 vote. From GPB News.
- Georgia ACA enrollment falls as federal changes push prices higher: Community health centers brace for fallout as deadline passes with higher premiums intact. From Healthbeat.
- Glynn County and DA budget standoff continues with no end in sight: Mediation drags on as district attorney fields 7,947 cases with 10 prosecutors. From The Current‘s Jabari Gibbs.
NEWS: ENVIRONMENT
☕ Your second cup: Our interconnected world
This past week, University of Georgia researchers told us about a newly proven and critical connection between the Upper Floridan aquifer — which supplies drinking water to Coastal Georgia — and the Okefenokee Swamp. The research challenges some assumptions about the aquifer by proving water levels in the swamp and the aquifer rise and fall together. Experts now say the connection between the two bodies suggests mining would likely disturb that balance. It’s another reminder of the amazing interdependence of nature. And, it’s a great chance to bring you this story from the Pew Charitable Trusts about the delicate balance of Georgia’s Chattahoochee River basin and how plans for it may affect the resurrection of the Apalachicola oyster industry and threaten the tupelo trees that provide prized nectar for honey bees. Every action we all take matters.
Enjoy.
SPONSORED
Georgia Power wins approval for massive expansion despite protests
By Ty Tagami/Capitol Beat News Service
The Georgia Public Service Commission unanimously voted to grant Georgia Power permission to build five gas-powered plants and contract for additional power from other suppliers, despite criticism that the expansion could cost up to $60 billion and have a negative impact on the environment.
Facts with receipts: How The Current finds documents and how you can, too
By Maggie Lee
A free, open and democratic society requires open records — a public right to inspect government plans, e-mails, budgets, invoices and other records. “Sunshine” laws guarantee that right and The Current GA’s reporting uses the documents that cities, counties and the state don’t publish, and publishes them.
Port Wentworth panel advises against data centers
By Mary Landers
The Port Wentworth planning commission unanimously rejected a proposal to define data centers in the city’s zoning ordinance, after citizens raised concerns about water and electricity usage, noise, and air pollution.
Fulton County DA Fani Willis defends 2020 election case in fiery testimony before Senate panel
By Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testified before a GOP-led state Senate committee to defend her decision to pursue a criminal case against President Donald Trump and 18 allies in an election fraud case, which was ultimately dismissed.
DNA testing shows Golden Isles restaurants serve American shrimp
By Mary Landers
The Southern Shrimp Alliance conducted a genetic analysis of 44 randomly selected restaurants in the Golden Isles area and found that 43 of the 44 dishes sampled were wild-caught American shrimp, confirming that shrimp served in the area is likely to be wild-caught American shrimp.
Recording reveals Trump pressured Georgia House Speaker to overturn 2020 results
By Sarah Kallis/GPB News
In a 2020 phone call, President Donald Trump asked then-speaker of the Georgia House David Ralston to call a special legislative session to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which was ultimately not called by Gov. Brian Kemp.
Georgia ACA enrollment falls as federal changes push prices higher
By Rebecca Grapevine/Healthbeat
The expiration of enhanced premium subsidies and other federal policy changes have led to a decrease in ACA enrollment in Georgia, resulting in an estimated 500,000 people losing health insurance in the next decade and increased pressure on local health departments, charity clinics, and hospitals.
Glynn County and DA budget standoff continues with no end in sight
By Jabari Gibbs
The nearly two-year dispute between Brunswick-area District Attorney Keith Higgins and Glynn County over a million-dollar budget remains unresolved, while the Georgia Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate an alleged improper use of funds at the DA’s office by a former office manager.
UGA researchers find more evidence that mining would harm Okefenokee
By Ty Tagami/Capitol Beat News Service
New research from University of Georgia scientists has found evidence that the Okefenokee Swamp is linked to the Upper Floridian Aquifer, suggesting that mining in the area could harm the swamp’s ecosystem.
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