Data center pollution; Fort Benning could get a nuclear reactor; Federal THC ban

Summary

Georgia Today – November 24, 2025

Host: Orlando Montoya (GPB News)
Main Topics: Data center growth and pollution concerns, potential nuclear reactor at Fort Benning, federal THC ban impact on Georgia

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Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today delves into three major news topics affecting Georgia residents:

• Community concerns about pollution and resource usage from the rapid expansion of data centers,
• The possibility of Fort Benning becoming one of the first military bases in the country to house a nuclear microreactor,
• The anticipated effects of a new federal THC ban on Georgia’s hemp industry and consumers.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Data Center Growth and Pollution in Georgia

[00:30 – 02:21]

• The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has enacted new rules that now require large data centers (500,000 sq ft+ outside Atlanta) to undergo state review as a Development of Regional Impact.
• This change ensures local communities, especially marginalized ones, can provide input before construction begins.
• Data centers are highly resource-intensive, using significant electricity and water.
• Clean air advocates are warning of public health risks, particularly for communities of color in metro Atlanta and South DeKalb.

Notable Insight:
Kaia Stanford (Moms Clean Air Force):

"If you look at the demographics of these regions, they have in common that they're primarily communities of color, and that's intentional, she says."
[01:51]

• Data center energy demand is already substantial, representing over 4% of U.S. electricity consumption.

Public Service Commission’s Position:

• Professional staff reports at the Georgia Public Service Commission challenge Georgia Power’s projections, arguing the utility is overestimating future power needs due to data centers.
• Consumers could see rate hikes (up to $20/month increase) if Georgia Power builds unneeded generation capacity.

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2. Nuclear Microreactor Proposed for Fort Benning

[02:21 – 03:54]

• Fort Benning, near Columbus, is a finalist—one of nine potential sites—for the U.S. Army's pilot nuclear microreactor.
• The project is part of an initiative (started by a Trump-era executive order) to provide off-grid, resilient power to military bases and drive nuclear tech innovation.
• Details on how many bases will ultimately be chosen and when remain undecided.

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3. Federal THC Ban and the Georgia Hemp Industry

[03:54 – 04:43]

• Recent federal legislation to reopen the government includes a ban on most hemp-derived THC products (Delta-8, infused drinks, gummies, and synthetic THC).
• This could significantly impact Georgia businesses and consumers who rely on hemp products for relief.
• The ban is set to take effect in about a year unless Congress or the Georgia Legislature intervenes.

Business Perspective:
Joe Salome (Georgia Hemp Company):

"There's going to be a huge vacuum of individuals that can't find their relief."
[00:25 & 04:21]

• The industry is already observing a rush of consumers stocking up ahead of the impending ban.
• Proponents of the THC restriction argue current products are not well-regulated for safety.

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4. Brief News Round-up

[04:43 – 05:58]

• Passing of H. Rap Brown / Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin:
  • The famed 1960s militant turned Atlanta imam has died at age 82 in federal custody.
• Jekyll Island Bobcat Attack:
  • A woman was bitten by a rabid bobcat at a mini golf course; bystander Kaylee O’Keefe described a chaotic scene:

    "There was a lot of screaming. I think a lot of the people on like the playground area didn't really know what was happening. There was just a bunch of people screaming that there was a bobcat..."
    [05:41]

• Atlanta Falcons:
  • Ended a losing streak with a 24-10 win at New Orleans, though playoff prospects remain slim.

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Notable Quotes

• Kaia Stanford (Moms Clean Air Force):

  "If you look at the demographics of these regions, they have in common that they're primarily communities of color, and that's intentional, she says."
  [01:51]

• Joe Salome (Georgia Hemp Company):

  "There's going to be a huge vacuum of individuals that can't find their relief."
  [00:25, 04:21]

• Kaylee O’Keefe (Jekyll Island bystander):

  "There was a lot of screaming. I think a lot of the people on like the playground area didn't really know what was happening. There was just a bunch of people screaming that there was a bobcat..."
  [05:41]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:30 – Data center project rules and community input process
• 01:36 – Clean air advocates on data center health risks; equity concerns
• 02:21 – Debates over Georgia Power’s energy forecasts, possible rate hikes
• 02:54 – Fort Benning’s selection as nuclear microreactor site candidate
• 03:54 – Federal THC ban details; impact on hemp businesses and users
• 04:43 – Passing of H. Rap Brown/Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin
• 05:41 – Jekyll Island bobcat attack witness account
• 06:18 – Summary of Atlanta Falcons’ game outcome

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Tone and Language

The episode maintains GPB’s signature informative, straightforward style—balancing direct news delivery with quotes from affected individuals, advocates, and business owners. Community perspectives are foregrounded, especially for environmental, regulatory, and health impacts.

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For more Georgia news, visit gpb.org/news.

Transcript

[Orlando Montoya]

Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. On this podcast, we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. Coming up on today's episode, the growth of data centers is on the rise in Georgia, and some residents are pushing back. Georgia's Fort Benning could be the site of a new nuclear reactor and how will the federal ban on THC products affect the Georgia hemp industry?

[Joe Salome]

There's going to be a huge vacuum of individuals that can't find their relief.

[Orlando Montoya]

Today is Monday, November 24th. I'm Orlando Montoya and this is Georgia Today. The Georgia Department of Community affairs last week adopted new rules that will require proposals for data centers to be subject to state review. The current and Savannah is reporting data centers now will be included in what counts as a development of regional impact. The that process will allow those close to the development of a data center the opportunity to comment before development happens. That's according to DCA Deputy Commissioner Rusty Haywood, who spoke to the DCA board. Developers will be required to estimate how much water and electricity their data center will need. The new rules apply to data centers of at least 500,000 square feet outside of Atlanta. Clean air advocates say unchecked growth in Georgia's data center industry could harm public health, especially for people in metro Atlanta, where air quality has worsened. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more.

[Ellen Eldredge]

Five data center projects are ongoing and more are proposed, all in the city of south Fulton. They're being built in anticipation of growth in the artificial intelligence. Kaia Stanford is with the advocacy group Moms Clean Air Force in Georgia.

[Kaia Stanford]

And there's also a 1 million square foot one that's being proposed in South DeKalb. If you look at the demographics of these regions, they have in common that they're primarily communities of color, and that's intentional, she says.

[Ellen Eldredge]

Residents should attend local government meetings to share their concerns. According to the Pew Research center, more than 4% of all electricity used nationwide powers these data centers. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[Orlando Montoya]

Professional staff at Georgia's Public Service Commission say Georgia Power is vastly overestimating its need for new generation capacity because of the growth in data centers. The two separate staff reports conclude the company only needs about a third of the new electricity production the utility is requesting permission from the PSC to develop. That's because both reports say Georgia Power's forecasts for data center growth aren't coming to fruition. One report estimates that the revenue needed to build to the company's forecasts could add an additional $20 a month to the average household's power bill. The U.S. army has selected Georgia's Fort Benning near Columbus as a potential site for a nuclear microreactor. The military base is one of nine potential locations for what the army calls its next generation nuclear power program. It stems from an executive order signed by President Trump in May directing the army to set up a small modular reactor at a domestic military base by 2028 with the goal of providing off grid power and advancing nuclear technology. How many bases will get the reactors and when they'll be selected and have yet to be announced. Congress has set a deadline for a federal ban on most THC products made from hemp. GPB's Sarah Kalas explains how that could affect producers and consumers in Georgia.

[Sarah Kalas]

The change was passed as part of the federal legislation to reopen the government. It would limit the level of THC legally allowed in a product at the federal level, effectively banning hemp derived products with THC, including drinks, gummies and Delta 8. Georgia consumer can currently buy these products as well as synthetic thc. Joe Salome, co founder of the Georgia Hemp Company says his business has seen an increase in customers trying to buy products in preparation for a ban.

[Joe Salome]

There's going to be a huge vacuum of individuals that can't find their relief.

[Sarah Kalas]

The ban will go into effect in about a year unless Congress or the Georgia Legislature pass legislation to loosen restrictions on thc. Proponents of the ban say that hemp derived THC products are not regulated enough to ensure safety for For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallas.

[Orlando Montoya]

The 1960s black militant formerly known as H Rap Brown has died in prison after his leadership in the Black Panther movement. Brown converted to Islam, went by the name Jamil Abdullah Alameen and became an imam in Atlanta. In 2002, he was convicted of murder in the death of a Fulton county sheriff's deputy and sentenced to life in prison. His widow said the 82 year old had been suffering from cancer and died Sunday at a federal medical center in North Carolina. A woman on Jekyll island sustained non life threatening injuries to her leg in an attack by a young bobcat on Sunday. Authorities say the woman transported herself to seek treatment at a nearby medical center and the bobcat was killed and tested positive for rabies. Kaylee o' Keefe says she witnessed the attack, which took place at a mini golf course and sent people running toward a raised patio deck at a restaurant.

[Kaia Stanford]

There was a lot of screaming. I think a lot of the people on like the playground area didn't really know what was happening. There was just a bunch of people screaming that there was a bobcat. And of course the lady that got attacked told her kids to run, so they were running all through the mini golf place.

[Orlando Montoya]

Bobcats were wild on Jekyll island, but might have been exterminated by hunting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The predators came back about a decade ago, according to reports at the time, perhaps by crossing the island's five mile causeway. Authorities say the woman attacked did nothing to provoke the bobcat. In Georgia sports, the Atlanta Falcons snapped their five game losing streak with a 2410 win at New Orleans on Sunday. Quarterback Kirk Cousins enjoyed a bounce back game in his renewed role as the team's starter, throwing for 199 yards and two touchdowns, showing he has more left in his career. Still, the Falcons remain a long way away from realizing their hopes of their first winning record and playoff season since 2017. Last night's victory brings them to 4 and 7. And that's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. Very much glad that you downloaded us today. And if you'd like to learn more about the stories that we bring you on Georgia today, visit gpb.org news and you'll find many of our stories there. If you haven't yet hit subscribe on this podcast. Take a moment to do that now. It helps you and it helps us by keeping you current with us in your feed. We always enjoy feedback. Send us feedback to Georgia todaypb.org I'm Orlando Montoya. I'll talk to you again tomorrow.