Private utility wants to bypass Georgia county to connect water to new homes near Hyundai plant

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A private utility is asking Georgia legislators to change a state law so the company can provide water service to new homes near Hyundai’s upcoming electric vehicle factory without first getting permission from local governments.

A state Senate committee in Atlanta voted Tuesday to advance House Bill 1146 a week after it passed the House. The proposal’s sponsor says it’s needed to accelerate home construction in Bryan County, where Hyundai plans to employ 8,500 workers at its $7.6 billion EV plant west of Savannah.

Conservation groups oppose the measure along with the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, which argue it would undermine the authority of city and county governments to manage limited water resources in Georgia’s rapidly growing coastal region.

Hyundai broke ground in October 2022 on its first U.S. factory dedicated to producing EVs and the batteries that power them. It’s the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history, and construction has progressed quickly as the South Korean automaker seeks to begin manufacturing cars by the end of this year.

Rep. Ron Stephens, a Savannah Republican, says limits state regulators have placed on how much water Bryan County can withdraw from the Floridan aquifer, the region’s main source of drinking water, are slowing construction of new homes needed to accommodate Hyundai’s workforce. He told the Senate committee there’s no time to wait on Bryan County to expand its government-run water system.

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