Prosecutor's Office on hold; Data center energy demand; BioLab fire one year later

Summary

Georgia Today – October 7, 2025

Host: Chase McGee (on behalf of GPB News)
Episode Theme: Key challenges facing Georgia – impacts of the federal government shutdown, energy demands from data centers, and lingering concerns a year after the Biolab fire.

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Episode Overview

This episode highlights pressing issues across Georgia:

• The halt of new federal prosecutions due to a government shutdown and the local impacts on workers and farmers
• Surging energy demands created by data centers, and evolving debates about natural gas and nuclear investments
• The one-year anniversary of the Biolab chemical fire, with new scrutiny of the response and ongoing community health concerns

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Main Segments & Discussion Points

1. Federal Prosecutor’s Office Pauses New Cases (00:52–01:50)

• Government Shutdown Impact:

  • The U.S. Attorney's Office in Middle Georgia is pausing all new civil cases, except select immigration matters, due to the federal shutdown.
  • Court deadlines for active cases have been extended until the shutdown ends.
  • Quote:
    • "The week old government shutdown has caused the federal prosecutor's office in the Middle Georgia district to stop working on cases." — Chase McGee (01:00)

• Support for Affected Federal Workers:

  • Warner Robins Mayor Laronda Patrick announced the city will waive late utility fees and prevent service shutoffs for federal employees who aren't being paid.
  • Utility bill “amnesty” will last through the shutdown.

• Delayed Disaster Aid for Farmers:

  • Georgia farmers, already hit hard by Hurricane Helene, are waiting for over $530 million in federal disaster relief.
  • The shutdown has halted aid distribution, despite prior approval and months of negotiation.
  • Quote:
    • "Once the shutdown ends, state officials say applications will be processed immediately to get relief to Georgia's farmers." — Chase McGee (01:50)

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2. Biolab Chemical Plant Fire – One Year Later (03:17–06:50)

Field Report by Pamela Kirkland

• Incident Recap & Community Impact:

  • Biolab in Conyers, a major pool chemical plant, suffered a massive fire in 2024, releasing toxic smoke and forcing local evacuations.
  • The plume drifted up to 20 miles, with widespread odor and respiratory complaints.
  • Not the first time: Residents have endured five major accidents at Biolab over two decades.
  • Quote:
    • "In 2004 we only saw gray and black clouds. This one we've seen pink, we've seen black, we've seen beige." — Jean Sadler, resident (03:58)

• Safety Failures & Lawsuits:

  • Federal investigators found the plant's corroded sprinkler system may have triggered the blaze.
  • Former engineer Randy Garcia described chronic issues:
    • "When I first saw the fire, I assumed it was the leaky sprinklers because it was a constant issue." — Randy Garcia (04:49)
  • Residents, including Jean Sadler, are now part of a class-action lawsuit, linking health issues to the fire.
  • Biolab disputes federal findings but states it is cooperating and has stopped manufacturing pool chemicals at Conyers.

• Ambiguity Over Toxins Released:

  • EPA initial air monitoring found unsafe chlorine but “acceptable” conditions county-wide.
  • Residents, unsatisfied, brought in independent tester Scott Smith.
    • "They don't look for the full spectrum of chemicals. I say you can't find what you don't look for. Then they declare everything safe." — Scott Smith (05:42)
  • Smith’s samples found potentially hazardous byproducts: dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
  • The Chemical Safety Board expects its full investigation will take another six months.

• Emotional Toll on Community:

  • Quote:
    • "You hear a siren coming our way and you think, oh my God, what's going on?" — Jean Sadler (04:16)
    • "You work so hard all of your life to obtain just a living... and then it's things like this. It's nothing I can do about that would drain you." — Jean Sadler (06:35–06:44)

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3. Data Center Energy Demand and Natural Gas Debate (06:59–07:59)

• Rising Energy Demands:
  • Georgia faces “insatiable demand” from new data centers and electrification.
  • Industry representatives, like Scott Tolleson (Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia), urge investment in natural gas for power supply.
  • Quote:
    • "The 100 megawatt data center that we're looking at says they're going to burn about 18,000 decotherms a day. That's enough natural gas to run 350,000 natural gas water heaters a day." — Scott Tolleson (07:46)
  • Discussion on efficiency: Direct natural gas use is often more efficient than converting it into electricity for heating/cooking.
  • Some legislative support for nuclear power also emerged as an alternative for meeting demand.

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4. Additional Noteworthy Updates (08:21–09:06)

• Healthcare Excellence:

  • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta ranked in the national top 10 for pediatric specialties.
  • Quote:
    • "There are a lot of states that do not have a hospital that is ranked among the best in all 10 specialties. That's a rarity. So Georgians are fortunate..." — Ben Harder, U.S. News & World Report (08:39)

• Local Revitalization:

  • Warner Robins is demolishing and redeveloping Commercial Circle to create a walkable "town center."

• School Recess Expansion:

  • DeKalb County School District responds to parent activism by instituting a 30-minute daily recess for elementary students, effective January 2026.

• COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout:

  • Georgia Department of Public Health is administering updated COVID-19 vaccines statewide, contingent on supply.

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5. Sports and Local Transportation (11:07–End)

• Sports News:

  • Columbus Crew midfielder and former Atlanta United player Darlington Nagby to retire after MLS playoffs.
  • Auburn vs. Baylor set for 2026 season kickoff at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the event features a new NIL deal for student athletes.

• Transit Developments:

  • MARTA plans to open metro Atlanta’s first bus rapid transit line ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aiming for a full launch by April 2026.

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Memorable Quotes

• "You work so hard all of your life to obtain just a living... and then it's things like this. It's nothing I can do about that would drain you."
  — Jean Sadler, Conyers resident (06:35–06:44)

• "They don't look for the full spectrum of chemicals. I say you can't find what you don't look for. Then they declare everything safe."
  — Scott Smith, environmental tester (05:42)

• "The 100 megawatt data center that we're looking at says they're going to burn about 18,000 decotherms a day. That's enough natural gas to run 350,000 natural gas water heaters a day."
  — Scott Tolleson, Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia (07:46)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Federal Prosecutor’s Office/Shutdown Impact: 00:52–01:50
• Aid for Farmers: 01:45–02:10
• Biolab Fire Investigation (feature): 03:17–06:50
• Data Center Energy Panel: 06:59–07:59
• Children’s Healthcare Ranking: 08:21–08:55
• Commercial Circle Redevelopment: 09:06–09:30
• DeKalb Recess Policy Change: 09:30–09:48
• COVID-19 Vaccine Availability: 09:48–10:25
• Sports & MARTA Updates: 11:07–12:12

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Tone and Style

The episode blends authoritative reporting with direct community voices, emphasizing both technical insights and personal stories—most notably in the Biolab segment, where emotion and lived experience drive home the stakes of regulatory and industrial failures.

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This summary captures the breadth and depth of the episode, serves listeners who missed it, and provides both factual highlights and the human dimension of the stories.

Transcript

[GPB Announcer]

Georgia is the new hotbed for musical talent and the music industry knows it. Record executives are turning their eyes to the Peach State to discover the next big thing. On GPB's Peach Jam podcast, you'll hear those rising Georgia artists before anyone else listen and discover the sound of what's next on the Peach Jam Podcast from Georgia Public Broadcasting.

[Chase McGee]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Middle Georgia's federal prosecutor's office puts a pause on new cases due to the government shutdown Energy demand for new data centers is driving increased natural gas production. And one year after the fire at the Biolab chemical plant, new questions are being raised about the response.

[Jean Sadler]

You work so hard all of your life to obtain just a living and then it's things like this.

[Chase McGee]

Today is Tuesday, October 7th. I'm Chase McGee and this is Georgia Today. The week old government shutdown has caused the federal prosecutor's office in the Middle Georgia district to stop working on cases. Court records show. The district's U.S. attorney, Will Keyes, requested an order to halt all civil cases with the exception of certain immigration matters because of the funding lapse. A judge has extended deadlines in cases until the shutdown ends. The mayor of the city of Warner Robins is offering financial help to federal employees already affected by the federal government shutdown. Warner Robins is home to Robins Air Force Base, where thousands of civilians work alongside active duty members of the Air Force and full time members of the Air National Guard. Mayor Laronda Patrick says during the shutdown the city won't charge late fees on past due bills or cut off water, sewer, natural gas or garbage pickup for federal workers whose paychecks have been paused. Patrick says Warner Robbins will extend utility bill amnesty until at least the end of the federal shutdown. Georgia farmers, hit hard by last year's Hurricane Helene, are still waiting on long promised federal aid. The U.S. department of Agriculture approved more than $530 million in disaster relief for the state last week, but the federal government shutdown has temporarily halted progress on distributing the funds. The aid is part of a $30 billion national block grant program created after a series of extreme weather events. Georgia's share was negotiated over four months between state agricultural officials and the USDA to cover crops not typically included in disaster programs. Once the shutdown ends, state officials say applications will be processed immediately to get relief to Georgia's farmers. It's been a year since a massive fire at the Biolab chemical plant in Conyers east of Atlant produced a plume of toxic smoke that remained for days. Federal reports point to safety lapses inside the plant, but new questions are also being raised about the response. GPB's Pamela Kirkland has been following the aftermath in the podcast Manufacturing Danger, which is in its second season.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Here's Pamela The911 call came in at 5am on September 29th last year.

[Chase McGee]

Dr. L. Kenny, 911, how can I help you?

[Scott Smith]

We got a sprinkle head bush. There's chemical smoke everywhere.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Biolab is one of the nation's largest producers of pool and spa chemicals like chlorine tablets. The toxic plume from the fire drifted across majority black Rockdale county, forcing evacuations and shelter in place orders. In Atlanta, 20 miles away, people noticed a haze and a sharp chlorine odor for longtime residents near the plant. This wasn't the first time.

[Jean Sadler]

In 2004 we only saw gray and black clouds. This one we've seen pink, we've seen black, we've seen beige.

[Pamela Kirkland]

The company has had five major accidents over 20 years. Gene Sadler has lived through all of them.

[Jean Sadler]

You hear a siren coming our way and you think, oh my God, what's going on?

[Pamela Kirkland]

She's now part of a class action lawsuit brought by residents who are reporting health issues they say are stemming from the fire. The U.S. chemical Safety Board is still investigating, but has already said reactive materials came in contact with water which triggered at least two fires. They also found that the sprinkler system had corrosion like salt water eating away at metal and had been leaking in the weeks before the fire.

[GPB Announcer]

When I first saw the fire, I assumed it was the leaky spark sprinklers because it was a constant issue.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Randy Garcia left Biolab five months before the accident. He was the on site engineer and says he had been replacing corroded sprinkler heads until the day he quit. Residents now have questions about exactly what chemicals were released in the fire. The U.S. environmental Protection Agency monitored the air right afterwards and found unsafe chlorine levels near the plant, mostly overnight. The rest of the county showed acceptable levels, but residents now say their testing wasn't enough. They brought in their own tester, Scott Smith, known for his work after the 2023 East Palestine train derailment in Ohio. He says the EPA wasn't thorough enough in their monitoring.

[Scott Smith]

They don't look for the full spectrum of chemicals. I say you can't find what you don't look for. Then they declare everything safe.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Smith says his sampling found dangerous chemical byproducts dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. An EPA spokesperson said in an email that it takes concerns about its emergency response seriously but did not respond to Smith's specific findings. Biolab declined to respond to this story. The company disputes any federal finding from the chemical board investigation so far, but says it is still cooperating. Biolab also faces a federal lawsuit from the county in May. The company said it will no longer make pool chemicals in Conyers but will continue to use the facility to store and distribute its products. After five fires in 20 years, Jean Sadler wants none of it near her house.

[Jean Sadler]

You work so hard all of your life to obtain just a living.

[Chase McGee]

And.

[Jean Sadler]

Then it's things like this. It's nothing I can do about that would drain you.

[Pamela Kirkland]

The Chemical Safety Board says its investigation could take another six months. For GPB News, I'm Pamela Kirkland.

[Chase McGee]

You can find out more about the history of the company and the aftermath of the chemical fire at Biolab in the podcast Manufacturing the Biolab story from GPB an insatiable demand for energy from new data centers and electrical appliances is driving new production of natural gas supplies. That's according to industry insiders who spoke yesterday at a state legislative panel examining the state's future energy needs. Members of the Special Committee on Resource Management Energy subcommittee heard from advocates for the natural gas industry who pointed to the fossil fuel as a way to produce electricity to meet growing demand for power. Scott Tolleson is an executive with the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia. He spoke about just how much power data centers consume and just some perspective.

[Scott Smith]

The 100 megawatt data center that we're looking at says they're going to burn about 18,000 decotherms a day. That's enough natural gas to run 350,000 natural gas water heaters a day.

[Chase McGee]

Tolleson noted. Converting it to electricity is not as efficient as consuming it directly for things like cooking or heating. Legislators also heard from advocates of nuclear power to meet demand. Out of the 86 children's hospitals in the country rated by U.S. news & World Report, one of the best is in Georgia. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more.

[Ellen Eldredge]

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta ranked among the top 10 in the nation for all specialties evaluated, including cancer, heart surgery and disorders of the lungs and kidneys and nerves. Ben Harder is chief health analyst at U.S. news & World Report. He says Georgia is lucky to have such great care available.

[Ben Harder]

There are a lot of states that do not have a hospital that is ranked among the best. In all 10 specialties that's a rarity. So Georgians are fortunate to have a really great hospital located in Atlanta.

[Ellen Eldredge]

Other Georgia children's hospitals ranked include facilities in Augusta, Macon and Savannah. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[Chase McGee]

Also in Warner Robbins Today, the city demolished another building in an area called Commercial Circle as a part of their effort to build a town center. 65 years ago, the land outside the main gate of Robbins Air Force Base was the city's heart, but today it has been passed over by miles of car centered strip malls and suburban development. Once Warner Robbins buys up and demolishes the old Commercial Circle, city leaders plan to rebuild it into a walkable and modern commercial district. After a Change.org petition and community push, the DeKalb County School District is extending recess for elementary students starting in January 2026. All elementary schools will provide a 30 minute daily recess. The change follows a petition with nearly 3,000 signatures criticizing the district's earlier scheduling changes that limited district officials say the update responds directly to parent concerns. School leaders will receive scheduling options to implement the change early next year. The Georgia Department of Public Health has begun administering COVID 19 vaccines at health departments across the state. The agency announced the shots today after a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committee approved new guidelines for the vaccine about two weeks ago. DPH says vaccine availability will depend on supply, and residents are encouraged to call their local health departments ahead of time before going in for a shot.

[NPR Announcer]

Sources and methods the crown jewels of the intelligence community. Shorthand for how do we know what's real? Who told us? If you have those answers, you're on the inside and NPR wants to bring you there. From the Pentagon to the State Department to spy agencies, listen to under understand what's really happening and what it means for you. Sources and methods the new national Security podcast from NPR.

[Chase McGee]

In Georgia Sports Columbus Crew midfielder Darlington Nagby plans to retire at the end of the Major League soccer playoffs. The 35 year old has won four league titles in 15 MLS seasons, including with Atlanta United in 2018 and Auburn. Football says the Tigers will face Baylor in the AFLAC kickoff game to open the 2026 season next year in September at Atlanta Mercedes Benz Stadium. The team announced the game yesterday, saying it includes a first of its kind name, image and likeness deal tied directly with ticket sales for student athletes. Metro Atlanta's public transit agency MARTA says it will complete the region's first bus rapid transit project ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The agency's interim chief told Fulton county commissioners last week. The line will be launched by April 2026. Previously, the line was only expected to be partially running by the first World cup match. That's it for today's edition of GEORGIA Today. If you'd like to learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org news if you haven't hit subscribe on this podcast, take a moment right now and keep us current in your podcast feed. Got feedback? We'd love to hear it. Email us@georgia todaypb.org I'm Chase McGee. We'll see you tomorrow.

[NPR Announcer]

Sources and Methods, the crown jewels of the intelligence community. Shorthand for how do we know what's real? Who told us? If you have those answers, you're on the inside and NPR wants to bring you there. From the Pentagon to the State Department to spy agencies, listen to understand what's really happening and what it means for you. Sources and Methods, the new National Security podcast from NPR.