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Jan. 1—ATLANTA — Electric truck manufacturer Rivian's recent announcement that it would build a $5 billion plant in Georgia makes it the latest in a string of businesses promising green jobs in the state.
But while Georgia has welcomed solar companies — a large battery manufacturer and now Rivian — the state lags on policies that would help cut the emissions that cause climate change.
That disconnect isn't unusual, said Morgan Higman, a fellow in the energy security and climate change program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
"In many ways, I think the governor and officials that have worked to attract Rivian are not necessarily interested in electric vehicles for their climate benefits," she said. "They're interested in economic benefits."
Switching to electric vehicles is key to fighting climate change. The transportation sector is the country's No. 1 source of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
So advocates like Anne Blair, senior EV policy manager at the Electrification Coalition, are celebrating the new Rivian plant planned for Rutledge, east of Atlanta.
"Electric is the future and having a huge manufacturing hub for basically the next wave of technology, and it being in the automotive sector, it just offers a lot of opportunities," she said.
Georgia may be a great state to build EVs in, but it's not the friendliest state for people who want to buy them. Georgians won't be able to buy an electric truck directly from Rivian instead of through a dealership, unless state lawmakers change the law to allow it. And a few years ago, Georgia replaced its EV tax credit with an annual fee to cover the gas taxes electric car drivers aren't paying.
Similarly, it's not the friendliest state for rooftop solar, even though solar technology is made here. And the state has no emissions reduction targets.
A report Higman co-wrote for CSIS found several states, including Georgia, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming and Louisiana that are actively pursuing the economic opportunities of low-carbon industries despite a lack of "climate ambition," or decarbonization plans.
In Georgia, the report found, "existing competitive advantages in solar and batteries create opportunities for business, regardless of any climate ambition set at the state level."
Still, the planned Rivian plant in Georgia could push more people in the state to buy electric vehicles, said Dan Matisoff, a Georgia Tech economist.