Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 3, 2025

Feb. 3, 2025 WABE

Georgia Power walks back coal closures as demand from data centers, other projects rises

Emily Jones reports that Georgia’s largest electric provider is going back on its promise to close coal plants across the state in the face of rising demand for energy, especially from large projects like data centers. Georgia Power’s latest integrated resource plan, or IRP, filed Friday, also includes upgrades to existing nuclear power plants, added renewable energy and improvements to the overall power grid.

Feb. 3, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

2025 Georgia Trustees

Kenna Simmons reports, in 1732, England’s King George II appointed the first Georgia Trustees to establish the new colony of Georgia, with the motto “not for self  but for others.” Centuries later, in 2008, the Georgia Historical Society and the governor’s office harkened back to that sentiment by honoring two people each year as Trustees, chosen because their character and success reflect that motto.

Feb. 3, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Trump takes aim at the ‘EV mandate.’ Here’s how that could affect Georgia

Zachary Hansen and Drew Kann report that in the early days of his presidency, Donald Trump signed executive orders targeting an “electric vehicle mandate” he claims was instituted under his predecessor’s administration. With the stroke of a pen, Trump promised to roll back aspirational carbon emission regulations aiming to incentivize domestic EV production and detailed policy changes he wants to push through Congress, such as paring back $7,500 tax credits for buyers of plug-in cars.

Feb. 3, 2025 GlobalAtlanta.com

India Business Summit Marks 15th Year With Georgia Tech

Trevor Williams reports that an Atlanta summit focused on India as a budding investment destination for U.S. firms and showcasing its growth in innovation and technology is marking 15 years in 2025. The USA-India Business Summit on Feb. 12-13 is organized by Ani Agnihotri in partnership with the Center for International Business Education and Research at Georgia Tech, or GT-CIBER, which is also celebrating its 30th year hosting its own Global Business Forum, now conjoined with UIBS.

Feb. 3, 2025 The Current

A look at the search for endangered right whales off Coastal Georgia

Justin Taylor reports, from December through March every year, the waters off Georgia’s coast provide calving grounds for the estimated 70 remaining reproductively active female North American right whales, one of the world’s most endangered large whale species.

Feb. 3, 2025 Savannah Morning News

Savannah area legislators are filing new bills and reintroducing legislation for Georgians

Maya Homan reports, it’s the start of a new biennium in Georgia, and the Chatham County delegation’s nine lawmakers are already hard at work advancing their legislative agendas. Lawmakers in the House and the Senate have 40 days to advance bills through both chambers and deliver their bills to the governor’s desk.

Feb. 3, 2025 Fresh Take Georgia

Governor seeks more money for correctional officers

Gabby Miller reports, at the State Capitol, the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee held a meeting early this session to discuss how to increase non-security staffing at state prisons. Prison staff hires are lower now than in previous years and reflects a national trend.

Feb. 3, 2025 Rome News-Tribune

Tax Relief for Timber Loss Pending in Ga. Senate Committee

Diane Wagner reports that legislation aimed at helping counties recover from the devastating effect Hurricane Helene had on timber harvesting is moving through the Georgia Senate Finance Committee chaired by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome. The Timberlands Recovery, Exemption, and Earnings Stability (TREES) Act is sponsored by Sen. Russ Goodman, R-Cogdell.

Feb. 3, 2025 WSB Radio

GA lawmakers consider bill to close loophole allowing workers with disabilities to be paid ‘pennies’

Staff reports that a new bill proposed under the Gold Dome would close a loophole that allows some workers with disabilities to be paid less than minimum wage. Only eight so-called community programs in Georgia still take advantage of the federal certificate that allows them to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage.

Feb. 3, 2025 State Affairs

Georgia General Assembly Week 3 Roundup: Tort reform, mandatory kindergarten, no sale of lab-grown meat

Tammy Joyner reports that Georgia lawmakers ended week three of their legislative session with a slew of new bills, including a glimpse at the governor’s plan to fix the imbalance in the state’s legal system and cut rising insurance costs. Though it was a heavy legislative week, lawmakers and visitors enjoyed a bit of whimsy midweek when the Capitol ushered in the Chinese New Year (it’s the Year of the Wood Snake) with drums and life-size characters.

Feb. 3, 2025 Georgia Recorder

Courts protect Biden’s clean energy policies and Georgia EV jobs from Trump’s ax – for now

Stanley Dunlap reports that the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term at the White House was marked by a flurry of executive orders rolling back environmental regulations. Most prominent environmental organizations involved in climate issues in Georgia and across the country expected Trump’s recent announcements on environmental policy, but the promptness caught them off guard.

Feb. 3, 2025 Capitol Beat News

Homeschool students would get full access to local testing under proposed law

Ty Tagami reports that homeschool students would have guaranteed access to college admission testing at their local public school under legislation backed by prominent Republican state senators. School districts that offer the SAT, ACT, PSAT/NMSQT, PreACT, or an AP exam would have to post testing dates on their websites and allow students zoned for the school to participate like enrolled students.

Feb. 3, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

How Donald Trump’s tariffs could pinch Georgia’s economy, politics

Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, Georgians are about to feel the squeeze of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico as two of the countries have already ordered countermeasures that could ignite a damaging trade war. “IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID,” Trump posted in an all-caps social media post, acknowledging that there will likely be “some pain” in his decision.