Environment
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Electric Vehicles: Experts, Consumers Weigh the Costs, Benefits
Electric vehicles (EV) have been around for decades, but with the growing concerns emissions have on our environment, the question has become, are electric vehicles worth the investment despite the hassles of charging and planning? At the core of the EV movement is a goal for lower carbon emissions. According…
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Why Composting Is Accessible, but Not Widely Practiced
As spring gardening season begins in Athens-Clarke County, some residents are rethinking what happens to their food scraps. Food waste makes up a large portion of what ends up in landfills, where it breaks down without oxygen and produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. While composting offers an alternative, it…
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Into the Wild: UGA Students Head Outdoors for Summer Internships
For students at the University of Georgia in wildlife-based majors, internships can provide for unique adventures. However, encountering these kinds of opportunities is challenging due to the specialization of their studies, and with decreased funding in recent years, many students have struggled to secure internships in their chosen field. Hamilton…
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A Strawberry Legacy is Replanted at Merk Farm
Early summer Saturday mornings at the Merk Farm in Commerce, Georgia, have taken on a whole new meaning after Ali Merk introduced strawberry season. After waking up before the sun and fueling with coffee, Ali doesn’t have a moment to sit. She handles the full load of daily labor: watering…
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Athens-Clarke Sees Unexpected Tradeoff from Solar Garden Project
When you think of a garden, you likely envision a lot of green. The Athens Regional Library unveiled its own garden in April of 2024; however, it wasn’t the traditional green but a solar garden. As Athens-Clarke County moves toward its 100% clean energy goal for the year 2035, it…
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UGA Addresses On-Campus Food Waste with New Sustainability Initiatives
With five dining halls in every corner of campus, University of Georgia students have convenient access to food at a moment’s notice. However, this comes at a cost. On-campus dining halls produce thousands of pounds of food waste each week. The UGA Office of Sustainability is hoping to reduce waste…
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Athens’ De-Icing Chemicals Raise Waterway Concerns
Winter storms bring more to Athens-Clarke County than snow and ice. After the slush melts, salt crystals and sand linger on streets and sidewalks until the next rainstorm washes those materials toward storm drains, ditches and nearby waterways. During the two winter storms in Athens during 2026, Athens-Clarke County Emergency…
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Hyperlocal Forecasting Sharpens Winter Storm Predictions in Athens
When winter storms threaten Athens, accurate forecasting can be crucial to the safety of thousands. Georgia’s varied landscape stretches the limits of broad, statewide forecasting, often prioritizing metro areas like Atlanta over smaller cities. At the University of Georgia, students in the Weather Dawgs are closing that gap by using…
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Winter Storm Shopping Reveals Recycling Confusion in Athens
Back-to-back winter storms in Athens exposed confusion about plastic recycling and highlighted a larger issue of everyday waste. The forecasts for these storms last month sent Athens residents rushing to grocery stores, where cases of bottled water and packaged goods disappeared within hours. Business surged as shoppers stocked up ahead…
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Athens Mayor, Commissioners To Decide Future Of Data Center Moratorium After Public Input
The Athens-Clarke County Commissioners are expected to decide Tuesday whether to extend the moratorium on data centers as concerns over water, power use and rising utility costs have dominated the local conversation. Meanwhile, state lawmakers including Rep. Spencer Frye (D-Athens) are weighing legislation that could eliminate tax incentives for the industry.