So, like, Georgia Power is all like, “Yo, we need more electricity, like, ASAP because of data centers and stuff.” And they’re not really telling anyone what kind of power plants they want to build to meet this demand. Some people are like, “Um, excuse me, can you share your plans with us?” But Georgia Power is all secretive and stuff, which is making folks concerned that they’re gonna build a bunch of expensive, unnecessary, and polluting fossil-fueled power plants without anyone knowing.
In January, Georgia Power filed this 20-year plan with state regulators, and it’s like, “Hey, we’re gonna keep some coal-fired power plants open longer than planned.” And the Sierra Club was like, “Nah, that’s not cool.” But the real issue is that Georgia Power needs to add 9.5 gigawatts of electricity by 2031, and they’re not saying how they plan to do it. Are they gonna build more fossil-gas power plants or go for clean energy and batteries? No one knows.
And this lack of transparency is not sitting well with environmental and consumer advocates, as well as tech giants planning data centers in Georgia. They want clean energy, batteries, and other alternatives, not more fossil fuels. But Georgia Power is all, “We need to start building these power plants right now or else the grid will suffer.” So, the regulators might just have to approve their plans without really knowing what’s going on.
At a recent Public Service Commission hearing, folks were like, “Hey, Georgia Power, where are these 9 gigawatts coming from?” And Georgia Power was all, “Oh, we’re keeping it a secret because, you know, competition and stuff.” But people are like, “Um, we kinda need to know what you’re planning so we can, like, make informed decisions.” Georgia Power’s response? Just a document with the word “redacted” written all over it. Real helpful, right?
But get this, Georgia Power already applied for permits to build four gas-fired turbines with a combined capacity of 2.9 gigawatts, without even mentioning them in their plan. And when questioned about it, they were all vague and like, “We’re still figuring things out, so yeah.”
To make matters worse, Georgia Power’s previous IRP only covered their needs until 2029, leaving a 500-megawatt gap from 2029 to 2031. So now they’re using this all-source RFP process to fill the gap, but it’s all hush-hush and confidential. Like, why can’t they just tell us what they’re planning to do?
And let’s not forget about the renewable energy promises Georgia Power made. They have some solar power, but they’ve been slow to expand it. They had plans for more clean energy, but then they canceled some of them. Solar alone can’t meet their needs, but batteries could help. At least they approved adding 500 megawatts of battery storage, so that’s something.
But seriously, Georgia Power needs to be more transparent about their plans. The public deserves to know what’s going on, especially when it comes to building more fossil fuel power plants. It’s not just about the environment, it’s also about the cost to customers. Rates have been going up, and no one wants to pay more for dirty energy.
So, Georgia Power, spill the beans already. Let us know what you’re planning to do with all this electricity demand. Don’t keep us in the dark while you make decisions that will affect us all. It’s time to be open and honest about your intentions. We’re all waiting for some clarity here.
