PSC Election Relates to Your Bill

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025

Good morning! Today we have a story that connects the dots between your electric bill and the November election. There’s also an update on the proposed development of Buddy Carter’s property in Camden County. And for a pick-me-up, peruse photos from the release of Westie, a loggerhead sea turtle.

Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org

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EXPLAINER: ELECTIONS

Voting and your power bill

Organizers and community leaders in Georgia are trying to help people make the connection between their rising power bills and the only two statewide races on the ballot this year — two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission. The commission regulates utilities in Georgia, including overseeing Georgia Power’s plans and rates. That gives it influence over power bills and climate-warming pollution, as Emily Jones of WABE/Grist reports. Groups like Georgia Conservation Voters and Black Futures Lab are holding town halls and events across the state to educate voters and encourage them to vote in these easily overlooked races.

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FEATURE: ENVIRONMENT

Westie’s farewell

Most loggerhead sea turtles make their way to the ocean immediately upon hatching, when they weigh about an ounce. Not Westie, the sea turtle released on Tybee over the weekend. As a hatchling, Westie lingered in its nest, and as a so-called “straggler” became eligible to serve as a “turtle ambassador,” teaching thousands of visitor to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center about this iconic and threatened Coastal Georgia species. In three years there Westie grew to be a healthy 55 pounds. Straggling no more, Westie took off on Saturday for parts only partially unknown — a satellite tracker cemented to his shell will provide regular updates on Westie’s whereabouts. Check out the story by The Current‘s Justin Taylor for more photos of Westie’s sendoff.

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NEWS: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

Camden development delayed

Several weeks ago The Current brought readers news that nearly 500 acres of land owned by Congressman Buddy Carter (R-St. Simons) in Camden County was part of a proposal for a 750-home residential development. The Kingsland planning and zoning board was scheduled to consider annexation and rezoning of the land Sept. 2. Dozens of concerned local residents attended the meeting to voice their opposition, as the Brunswick News reports. In public comment, those residents questioned the impact of the development on traffic, flooding, and infrastructure maintenance, among other issues. “We’re going to have to put up with all this crap, just because Buddy Carter wants a little money,” said one commenter. Ultimately, the board tabled the issue to allow Camden County to weigh in on the annexation. Listen to audio from the meeting here.

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Also noted

• The closing of International Paper in Savannah has locals speculating on the fate of the riverfront property located near the Georgia Ports Authority, including theories that the port itself would swoop in and expand upriver. GPA spokesman Edward Fulford told The Current it’s not planning to buy IP land. “We are saddened to see the closure of the International Paper Savannah mill and its impact on the people and community. It’s also a great loss of business as a major export customer. In Georgia Ports ten-year plan, we currently do not have any plans for the acquisition of IP property.”

• The Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division held a town hall Thursday in Brunswick to present and receive input on new proposed rules for private recreational dock construction, reconstruction, and maintenance. Background documents, including slides from the town hall, are available here. More public comment opportunities have been promised but not yet scheduled before the DNR finalizes the rules in 2026. To provide input in the meantime, email Jill.Andrews@dnr.ga.gov.

• While a graduate student at Georgia Southern University, Shannon Matzke studied how densely to plant the sand dunes on Tybee Island to ensure the best build up of sand. It turned out to be about five plants per square meter. Now a public program coordinator and marine educator with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, which helped fund her research, Matzke’s findings were published in the May 2025 issue of  “Ecological Restoration,” offering guidance for future dune restoration and maintenance projects.  
  

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