ATLANTA – Georgia Power will continue to rely on coal and natural gas to generate electricity in the coming years while increasing investments in renewable energy.
Those are among the commitments included in the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) the Atlanta-based utility submitted Friday to the state Public Service Commission (PSC).
IRPs, typically updated every three years, outline the mix of energy sources Georgia Power intends to rely on for power generation during the next two decades.
The 2025 IRP acknowledges a soaring growth in demand that has come from power-hungry industries that have set up shop in Georgia in recent years, notably data centers. Georgia Power projects it will need an additional 8,200 megawatts of generating capacity during the next six years, an increase of more than 2,200 megawatts compared to updated projections in an IRP the commission approved just last spring.
“As Georgia continues to grow, this state is well-positioned for the future thanks to proactive planning, policies, and processes like the Integrated Resource Plan,” said Kim Greene, Georgia Power’s chairman, president, and CEO. “The 2025 IRP provides a comprehensive plan to support Georgia’s continued economic growth and serve Georgians, with clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy well into the future.”
The new IRP calls for Georgia Power to continue operating coal-burning plants at Plant Bowen near Cartersville and Plant Scherer near Macon, which would provide about 4,000 megawatts of electricity. Those are among the most advanced coal units in the world, equipped with state-of-the-art technology that reduces their carbon footprints, according to a news release from the company.
Georgia Power also plans improvements in natural gas production at Plant McIntosh near Savannah, which would produce an additional 268 megawatts of capacity.
The IRP also proposes increasing the utility’s renewable energy capacity by 4,000 megawatts by 2035 to a total of 11,000 megawatts. Renewable sources of power would include new utility-scale and rooftop solar projects, battery storage, and modernizing Georgia Power’s fleet of hydroelectric plants.
Additional investments at the company’s Plant Hatch and Plant Vogtle nuclear facilities would add another 112 megawatts of carbon-free energy.
Critics attacked the new IRP Friday as over-reliant on coal and gas. Groups including the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) have called on Georgia Power to retire both Plant Bowen and Plant Scherer.
“We’re the No.-1 state to do business and one of the U.S.’s fastest growing tech hubs. Are we really going to power progress with gas and coal?” said Jennifer Whitfield, a senior attorney at the SELC’s Georgia office. “Coal hasn’t been economic for years, and paying for even more methane gas is incompatible with the future Georgians want and businesses are demanding.”
Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, questioned whether Georgia Power actually needs the additional 8,200 megawatts it is requesting.
“By asking for far more generation than is needed, Georgia Power and the Georgia Public Service Commission will end hearings by accepting less than requested, allowing everyone to claim a win for an expensive plan that is unreasonable,” she said.
Opponents also argued that fossil fuels leave customers vulnerable to costly spikes in utility bills. The average residential bill for Georgia Power customers already has increased by more than $43 a month during the last two years.
On the other hand, environmental organizations praised the utility’s proposal to increase its investment in demand-side management programs, which would allow Georgia Power to move closer to its Southeastern peer utilities in conserving energy usage.
The PSC will vote on the new IRP later this year following several rounds of hearings.