Georgia’s top climate and environment stories of 2023
Dangerous heatwaves. More frequent severe weather. A promising year for a landmark Georgia crop undone by a warm winter and an untimely cold snap.
A controversial mine. “Forever chemicals” in water. Questions about what to do with the toxic waste left behind from burning coal for electricity.
The biggest climate and environmental stories of 2023 showed how a warming planet and pollution are affecting the lives and livelihoods of average Georgians. But there also were stories of ingenuity and hope.
A clean energy boom. Green jobs. Saving “sky puppies.”
Here are the Georgia climate and environment stories to remember from 2023:
Extreme heat
As the planet endured what was likely the hottest year in its recorded history, Georgia also faced dangerous heatwaves, putting vulnerable populations at risk. At the same time, new research revealed which Atlanta neighborhoods are the hottest, providing the city valuable insight to help it plan for and adapt to a warmer future.
Peaches blitzed
Georgia has long been known as the Peach State, but its namesake fruit had a rough 2023, owing to an exceptionally warm winter and a March freeze. Peaches aren’t the only crop that has struggled to adapt to rising temperatures. The state’s most valuable fruit — blueberries — has also sustained heavy losses.
Pecans lashed by a hurricane
After Florida took a direct hit from Hurricane Idalia in late August, the storm churned north into Georgia, causing severe damage on many farms in the southern part of the state. Pecans were hit hardest, with thousands of trees uprooted by the winds on some farms, but federal help should help growers replant and recover.
Wildfires
Firefighters battled several fires in northwest Georgia this fall, including at least one that was the result of arson. Bone-dry conditions, falling leaves and gusty winds combined to fuel several significant blazes. The fires were a reminder of the risk of wildfires in heavily wooded Georgia, particularly in times of drought, a condition that is likely to be more common amid a changing climate.
Georgia a green jobs winner
After Hyundai announced plans to build its “Metaplant” in Georgia in 2022, the state continued its hot streak in recruiting electric vehicle (EV) and clean energy projects. Hyundai not only helped bring a wave of suppliers, the main Hyundai plant under construction in Bryan County grew to a $7.6 billion investment and 8,500 promised jobs.
Solar panel manufacturer Qcells announced a major expansion of its production capacity at two sites in Georgia, while a host of battery makers and other EV parts suppliers announced plans to come to the state, bringing thousands of jobs with them.
Plant Vogtle
The long-delayed and over-budget expansion of the nuclear power plant near Augusta finally switched on its first new reactor, making history in the process and bringing a major new source of clean energy to the state.
Vogtle’s second new unit, meanwhile, sustained a setback, while Georgia Power’s customers found out how much more they’ll be paying for the project.
‘Forever chemicals’
As a federal crackdown looms on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — also known by their acronym, PFAS — for water supplies, new testing revealed which Georgia water systems contain concentrations of the chemicals.
A major lawsuit over PFAS contamination in northwest Georgia reached a settlement, bringing the city of Rome tens of millions of dollars. But in its wake, a legal fight over DuPont and its successor companies’ deal with the city erupted. At the same time, water utilities across the state are weighing their options to remove the chemicals from their water supplies.
Water war victory
In one of the long-running disputes with its neighbors in Alabama over the states’ shared water supplies, Georgia notched a major legal victory. And in another of the so-called “water wars,” Georgia and Alabama reached a tentative deal that could resolve a separate conflict.
Bats
Many of Georgia’s bats — dubbed “sky puppies” by lovers of the flying mammals — are in serious decline due to a number of threats, from human development to a deadly fungal disease.
As more of the animals make their homes in bridges and culverts around the state, a multi-agency effort to protect them is paying off.
Invasive species
Georgia is home to an impressive array of native wildlife, but a few invasive species showed up in the state this year uninvited. A bee-eating hornet and a blue land crab were among the most concerning new arrivals.
Fishing access
Georgia is home to thousands of miles of rivers and streams, but a new state law has raised questions over what is and is not a public waterway. A lawsuit is testing where the state will draw the line on the issues of private property and public access, with big implications for people who fish and other lovers of the great outdoors.
Okefenokee mine
The fight over a proposed titanium mine near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge heated up in 2023. Georgia environmental regulators released the project’s draft mining plan in January, but no permits have been issued yet.
Then, this fall, the Okefenokee was tabbed for nomination to a prestigious list reserved for the planet’s most significant natural, historical and cultural gems. At the same time, opponents of the project have stayed on the attack, this time targeting corporate boardrooms.
Coal ash
Georgia’s electricity providers are turning away from their dirty and expensive coal-fired power plants. But as they do, big questions remain about how to handle the pits of dangerous waste left behind by years of burning coal.
Georgia Power is giving some of its coal ash a second life in concrete mixes, but there are serious legal and environmental questions about its handling of the material left behind at other sites.
A note of disclosure
This coverage is supported by a partnership with 1Earth Fund, the Kendeda Fund and Journalism Funding Partners. You can learn more and support our climate reporting by donating at ajc.com/donate/climate/
About the Authors
Drew Kann is a reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering climate change and environmental issues. His passion is for stories that capture how humans are responding to a changing environment. He is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia and Northwestern University, and prior to joining the AJC, he held various roles at CNN.
Meris Lutz is a contributing writer covering climate, the environment and the economy. She is particularly interested in stories that explore the intersections between climate change and labor, markets, health, biodiversity, government transparency and public access to natural resources.
J. Scott Trubey is the senior editor over business, climate and environment coverage at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He previously served as a business reporter for the AJC covering banking, real estate and economic development. He joined the AJC in 2010.
