– Sept. 4, 2024 –
Good morning! With the unofficial end of summer behind us, we’re looking this morning at those hefty, hot weather electric bills, and how to read them line by line. We then have a brief update on the development authority overseeing the Hyundai site and several reminders about environmental stories you may have missed over the long weekend, including a link to a video about Cumberland’s feral horses.
Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org
Correction: The Aug. 28, 2024 edition of Coast Watch misidentified the College of Coastal Georgia.
EXPLAINER: ENVIRONMENT
Deciphering your power bill
By now, coastal residents have all received several summertime electricity bills this year. Much like the weather, many of those bills have been scorchers, as rising mercury coincided with rising rates from Georgia Power. If an eye-popping bill total has you pulling out a calculator to doublecheck your usage, Grist’s Sam Worley can help. “Breaking down a Georgia Power bill” goes line by line through an actual bill, explaining the charges.
As part of a series to demystify electricity regulation in Georgia, Grist and WABE reporters also dove into a timeline of the Public Service Commission’s actions, a story outlining who controls climate policy in Georgia and advice about how to make your voice heard at the PSC. Find those stories at the link below.
NEWS: ENVIRONMENT
Hyundai wells spur more meetings
The Savannah Harbor – Interstate 16 Joint Development Authority, known as the JDA, met Thursday at the Bryan County Board of Education after lunch and a tour at its premier project, the Hyundai Metaplant. The board meeting was only its third this year despite the breakneck pace of construction at the Hyundai site. That’s two more meetings than required by the JDA’s bylaws, at least until Thursday. After members expressed frustration at not being sufficiently informed for a previous decision, the board voted to meet bimonthly and require documentation a week in advance for items scheduled for a vote.
Trent Thompson, vice president of infrastructure at Thomas & Hutton, gave the board an overview of water issues surrounding the 6.625 million gallons a day of water requested for the plant and associated development. His firm is helping Bryan and Bulloch counties, the well permittees, to hire a consultant experienced in setting up a well mitigation fund for private well owners affected by the Hyundai wells in Bulloch County. Such funds exist in Florida, California and Texas but the one required as a special condition in the draft Hyundai well permits will be the first in Georgia.
NEWS: ENVIRONMENT
ICYMI
- The Georgia Public Service Commission is set to vote Sept. 17 on Georgia Power’s proposal to burn wood pellets and other organic materials to generate energy. The plan has raised environmental concerns as well as worries about high costs being passed on to customers.
- Georgia seafood harvesters and others are objecting to the U.S. Army Corps’ plans to stop maintaining certain waterways including the Altamaha, Satilla, St. Marys, Oconee, and Ocmulgee rivers; Bellville, Sapelo and Darien harbors; and Fancy Bluff Creek.
- Georgia will be offering a Free Fishing Day in honor of National Hunting and Fishing Day on Sept. 28, 2024, as WSAV reports. On that day, residents do not need a fishing license or a trout license to fish on any public waters in the state including lakes, streams, ponds and public fishing areas. The Department of Natural Resources will also host an “Outdoor adventure day” with fishing, archery and kayaking in Richmond Hill.
- As litigation continues over the failure of the National Park Service to manage the 150 or so feral horses on Cumberland Island, Wild Cumberland has produced a video that portrays the problem with horses at the national seashore.
Just one thing
This week’s tip for personal environmental action comes from Ken Copi of Bryan County. A retired metallurgical engineer, Copi urged recycling with a specific fact: “It takes 20 times as much power to make aluminum from bauxite than to simply melt old aluminum items, similar for most other metals.” Send “just one thing” you do as part of your personal environmental action plan to mary.landers@thecurrentga.org. We’ll publish our favorites and credit the contributor. Thanks!
We want to meet your friends! If you like this newsletter be sure to share it. And, if someone shared this with you, click here to sign up for regular delivery!
Breaking down a Georgia Power bill
Get a better understanding of your Georgia Power bill with this guide.
Timeline: The Georgia Public Service Commission’s key decisions
A 15-year timeline of major events and elections provides information needed to understand what the PSC does and how it affects you.
The people who control Georgia’s climate and energy plans
Here are some of the major players in Georgia’s climate-related policies — and some who have had significant recent impact — and what they’re responsible for.
Want to contact the Georgia Public Service Commission? Here’s how.
Send a complaint, inquiry or opinion to the Georgia PSC using this guide.
OSHA investigating one Hyundai affiliate in Georgia
OSHA has investigated 12 workplace injuries at the Hyundai site near Savannah since January 2023, including one involving the Korean company’s US affiliate.
The Current GA is part of The Trust Project.
Read our policies.
Support independent, solutions-based investigative journalism without bias, fear or favor on issues affecting Savannah and Coastal Georgia.
WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM
You must be logged in to post a comment.