SUMMARY: A report by the Jack Kemp Foundation warns that average American energy bills could rise by 25% to 70% over the next decade due to soaring energy demands driven by AI, hyperscale data centers, and advanced manufacturing. The surge is straining the U.S. power grid, leading to significant price increases in capacity markets. Dominion Energy disputes these findings, predicting only a 2.5% annual increase in Virginia. The report argues for policy changes, including charging data centers more for energy and halting subsidies for their construction to alleviate the burden on consumers. Recommendations also include implementing minimum take clauses for utility contracts.

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SUMMARY: Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced his candidacy for the 2026 Republican gubernatorial nomination. In a post on his X page, Carr emphasized his commitment to building on the legacies of former governors Brian Kemp, Nathan Deal, and Sonny Perdue by focusing on job creation, community safety, and defending constitutional freedoms. With Kemp term-limited, Carr, who has been attorney general since 2016 and previously served in economic development and as chief of staff to Senator Johnny Isakson, enters a race that includes at least one other candidate, Democrat Olu Brown, who announced his campaign in August.

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SUMMARY: The Georgia Senate Special Committee on the Protection of Women’s Sports met to investigate policies concerning transgender athletes in sports. The state aims to join 25 others in restricting transgender participation in alignment with their birth gender. Senator Clint Dixon emphasized the need to protect women and their sports. Sasha Buchert from Lambda Legal urged against a blanket ban on transgender girls, advocating for a case-by-case evaluation of participation. The committee will continue discussions and develop recommendations before its disbandment on December 15. Despite political differences, there’s a willingness among members to collaborate for Georgia’s future.

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