Kristi E. Swartz

Kristi Swartz is an AJC contributing writer covering climate change and related matters. She writes about how climate change impacts people’s lives, from extreme weather hitting parts of the state more frequently, to higher electricity bills, insurance premiums and health care expenses. She’s interested in holding the powerful accountable and delving into the intersections between climate, politics and business.

Latest from Kristi E. Swartz

Nuclear politics: Kemp, Granholm host dueling victory parties at Vogtle

Southern Company’s data center pipeline keeps filling up

Data center demand fueled the profits of Atlanta-based Southern Co.

Atlanta is investigating a new fish kill on a different metro area river

Atlanta watershed management responsible for South River fish kill, state says

The South River fish kill was the second recent occurrence in a major Atlanta river.

Kemp joins Trump effort to shield consumers from data center power costs

The pledge builds on an agreement between the White House and seven tech companies that said they would pay for electricity costs in areas where they are building data centers

BioLab fire caused by sprinkler leak was likely avoidable, says final report

A federal agency's final report on the BioLab fire called conditions at the plant "completely unacceptable."

Atlanta faces sharp critiques for extreme heat response

‘Just not good enough’: Critics blast Atlanta’s extreme heat protections

Doctors, homeless services organizations and grassroots groups criticize Atlanta’s response to a heat wave that scorched the city around July Fourth.

As extreme heat arrives, dangerous days ahead for Atlanta World Cup revelers

The combination of extreme temps, humidity and Atlanta’s urban heat island will raise the risk of heat-related illnesses for World Cup fans, Peachtree Road Race runners.

The September 2024 fire at BioLab in Conyers spurred evacuations of thousands, weekslong overnight shelter-in-place orders, road closures, including parts of I-20 and led many to seek medical attention. (John Spink/AJC 2024)

What was in the BioLab fire plume? Georgia Tech study has some answers.

The September 2024 fire at BioLab in Conyers spurred evacuations, weekslong overnight shelter-in-place orders, closed roads and led many to seek medical attention.

Fish kill reported on Chattahoochee River

What killed thousands of fish along the Chattahoochee? A report offers clues.

EPD and Watershed documents show a combination of minimal or untreated sewage and stormwater overflow led to the deaths of nearly 45,000 fish.

Georgia Election - Georgia Public Service Commission

PSC races that could affect your Georgia Power bill are set for November

Two Public Service Commission races will decide the balance of power on the state’s top utility regulator, which oversees Georgia Power and its rates.

Solar panel maker Qcells ramps up production at Cartersville plant

As of this week, Qcells' panels will include solar cells made on site, making it the only company in the U.S. to produce those panels and all their components in house.