– Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024 –
Good morning! Coast Watch is back this week after a post-election break. The election is still on our minds, of course, so we’re taking a look at what a second Trump administration will mean for the climate. We also have an update about the Hyundai water permits, which the Ogeechee Riverkeeper challenged last week. Finally, a couple reminders: one about a chance to chat with a rogue shark scientist and the other about The Current’s Coastal Navigator podcast, which wraps up this week.
Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org
NEWS: ENVIRONMENT
Water permits challenged
The Ogeechee Riverkeeper is challenging the water permits issued to Bulloch and Bryan counties in October. The permits allow pumping up to 6.625 million gallons of water a day from the Floridan aquifer, with about 4 million gallons a day destined to quench the thirst of the Hyundai site in Ellabell. At the heart of the Riverkeeper’s argument against the permits is the belief that local residents should not be forced to drink treated Savannah River water while industrial users like Hyundai guzzle pristine aquifer water to make cars, as The Current’s Mary Landers reports.
ENVIRONMENT: NEWS
More EVs built than bought in Georgia
Speaking of Hyundai, the Korean carmaker and other electric vehicle manufacturers are big business in Georgia. So are EV battery manufacturers. But while Georgia has made itself an attractive place to do the business of making EVs, it’s fallen to middle of the road as a state in which to drive electric, as Emily Jones of WABE/Grist reports.
ANALYSIS: ENVIRONMENT
Trump and climate
Donald Trump’s upcoming return to the White House has prompted innumerable analyses of expected outcomes for the climate crisis. Most note that while Trump has promised to “unleash American energy,” signaling a boost for climate-warming fossil fuels, the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act has already invested billions of dollars in clean energy initiatives in red states like Georgia. Republican lawmakers in these states are unlikely to call for the law’s repeal. Neither are “Trump’s allies in the oil and gas industry who also benefit from the law’s tax credits for carbon capture, advanced biofuels and hydrogen,” as Gautam Jain of Columbia University writes.
Other reports of the upcoming administration’s effects on the climate include:
- He’ll try, but Trump can’t stop the clean energy revolution, from Grist.
- Experts worry Trump’s second term will cripple efforts to stop climate change, from PBS News Hour.
- Climate Advocacy Groups Say They’re Ready for Trump 2.0, from Inside Climate News.
Now that the votes are in and we’re all navigating what’s to come, the final episode of Coastal Navigator launches today. Our episode takes us to three places: outside the polls on election day, into the rooms where the votes are counted on election night, and out into the new, post-election America where we’ll hear from reactions across the community. A note from your host Gillian Goodman — it has been a pleasure creating this series and hosting so many local voices. If you have any thoughts or reactions feel free to be in touch: gillian.thecurrent@gmail.com
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Ogeechee Riverkeeper challenges Hyundai water permits
Ogeechee Riverkeeper wants state to reconsider using Floridan aquifer water for industrial use.
Georgia leads EV manufacturing, lags on sales
Georgia has gained EV manufacturing strength as sales of the eco-friendly vehicles in the state plummet.
What Trump can do to reverse US climate policy − and what he probably can’t change
Climate policy is in the president-elect’s crosshairs, but it’s unclear what he can accomplish.
After tough election result, Harold Jones takes on Senate minority leadership
Augusta’s Jones takes over as minority leader while the state senaate has a 33-23 GOP majority.
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