Georgia Trend Daily – May 27, 2025
May 27, 2025 Georgia Recorder
With PSC hearings pending, critics pan Georgia Power’s plans to increase use of fossil fuels
Stanley Dunlap reports that the Georgia Public Service Commission is set to hold a second round of hearings on Georgia Power’s controversial long-range plans. The five-member utility regulator is set to vote July 15 as the state’s largest utility expects to spend billions of dollars to meet skyrocketing energy demands attributed to new electricity-hogging data centers.
May 27, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Sweet Onions
Sucheta Rawal reports, what began in the mid-1980s as a small family farm in Reidsville today is one of the largest growers and shippers of sweet onions in North America. Shuman Farms is dedicated to growing and delivering world-famous Vidalia onions through brands like RealSweet and Mr. Bucks.
May 27, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Potential sale of landmark Atlanta federal building could jolt downtown
Allison Mawn reports, momentum appears to be accelerating for the federal government to sell a downtown Atlanta tower, home to several agencies, that has been a target for sale. In a report published Thursday, the Public Buildings Reform Board listed the Peachtree Summit Building as one of 11 federal sites across the country it recommends to be sold.
May 27, 2025 Newnan Times-Herald
Growth steady in Coweta, but recession concerns loom
Laura Camper reports that uncertainty was the thread that wove through the economic forecast presented at the University of West Georgia’s annual Newnan-Coweta Economic Forecast on Monday. “We’re actually doing pretty well, except…,” said Dr. Joey Smith, chairman of the Department of Economics, who presented the current state of the economy in Georgia and Coweta County.
May 27, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Bryan County holds meeting on transportation impact fees
Latrice Williams reports that the northern end of Bryan County is expected to see tremendous growth in the coming years. With more than 3,000 homes approved by the city of Pembroke, commercial and residential growth is expected to increase.
May 27, 2025 The Brunswick News
Oyster harvesting to close June 1 through Sept. 30
Staff reports that the state Department of Natural Resources announced Friday that saltwater oyster harvesting is closing from June 1 through Sept. 30. Commercial and recreational oyster harvesting for human consumption in state waters is closed effective 6 a.m. Sunday, June 1, the DNR said.
May 27, 2025 The Current
Awaiting permits to mine near Okefenokee, Twin Pines finds time is money
Mary Landers reports, for more than 15 months, Georgia regulators have been pondering the issuance of a permit to mine near the Okefenokee Swamp. Twin Pines President Steve Ingle shrugs off speculation it’s struggling.
May 27, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb Warns Data Breach Could be Broader, Sets up FAQ Page, Hotline
Staff reports, though the Cobb County government says it has only confirmed the private data of 10 people was compromised in the March hack of its servers, it created a standing page on its website Friday to notify those it “served and employed” that more information might have been available for the taking. The county said anyone whose personal information was impacted has already been mailed a notice.
May 27, 2025 Rome News-Tribune
Floyd County to Take Up Coosa Data Center Request Tuesday
Staff reports that the proposed data center next to Coosa Middle School will go before the Floyd County Commission Tuesday for a public hearing and final decision. Commissioners meet at 6 p.m. in the County Administration Building, 12 E. Fourth Ave., following a 4 p.m. caucus.
May 27, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
How we got here: Ledger-Enquirer’s reporting on the Columbus finance investigation
Staff reports, Columbus finance investigation revealed deep conflicts over how much revenue the city failed to collect. Initial audits cited a shortfall as high as $45 million, while city leaders maintained it was closer to $2.5 million.
May 27, 2025 WABE
Tech companies planned to use solar to power Georgia data centers. AI is changing that
Emily Jones reports, when the company, then known as Facebook, announced its Georgia data center in 2018, it promised the facility would be totally powered by solar energy, part of the tech giant’s overall goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. But as a smattering of data centers like Meta’s has grown into a bona fide boom industry in Georgia over the last seven years, solar isn’t the only new energy getting built.
May 27, 2025 Fresh Take Georgia
U.S National Parks: Visitor spending stirs local economies and stimulates the national economy
Juliane Balog reports that Kennesaw Mountain’s battlefield park is unique because it is located in a busy suburb of metropolitan Atlanta, unlike many parks around the country that are typically located in rural areas. In 2023, visitors to the park generated $18.6 million from gas and transportation alone.
May 27, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Army Corps backs off some recreational area closures after political blowback
Ty Tagami reports that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers quietly rolled back half the closures of recreational areas it had announced around Lake Lanier this week after public pushback from Georgia’s congressional delegation. U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Suwanee, drew attention to the closures when he issued a statement Wednesday saying he was disappointed to learn about them ahead of the busy Memorial Day weekend, noting the lake draws more than 10 million visitors a year.
May 27, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In deep-red Georgia, a GOP voice pushes back on immigration crackdown
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, Republican state Rep. Kasey Carpenter is an affable Dalton restaurateur with a long record of voting with his party on hard line conservative measures — except when it comes to immigration. Over the years, Carpenter has pushed to allow young immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to pay in-state tuition.
