Natural gas, renewable options are part of Georgia Power request for more energy
Georgia Power has asked the Public Service Commission to approve nearly 10,000 megawatts of new energy resources to meet growing demand across the state, the power company announced Thursday in a news release.
The request includes a mix of natural gas, solar power and battery storage systems that are scheduled to be ready between 2029 and 2031, according to the release.
A majority of the energy request, 8,000 megawatts, was selected through a competitive bidding process conducted over the last year called an “all-source” request for proposals, which was approved in the 2022 Integrated Resource Plan – a long-term energy forecast and the company’s plan on how to meet the forecasted load.
“The All-Source RFP was conducted over the last year with the company actively working with Georgia PSC staff and an independent evaluator to evaluate and select the most economical and efficient proposals,” the news release reads.
These new resources are meant to keep the grid stable during peak demand, according to the release.
Key projects in the request to the PSC include five new natural gas units, two at Plant Bowen, two at Plant Wansley and one at Plant McIntosh, totaling 3,692 MWs.
Methane is natural gas’ main ingredient, and it’s over 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat over 20 years, contributing to global warming, according to a report from the EPA. Though burning natural gas releases mostly carbon dioxide, methane can leak at multiple stages. A 2019 study found gas-fired power plants can emit between 8 and 135 kilograms of methane per hour, depending on the equipment used.
But Georgia Power says they’ve incorporated a cleaner natural gas that have helped reduce emissions.
“Georgia Power continues to incorporate cleaner natural gas into its diverse generation mix to reliably and affordably serve customers,” the news release reads. “This strategy has helped reduce overall carbon emissions by more than 60% since 2007, and the company is currently adding new natural gas capacity at Plant McIntosh and Plant Yates approved by the Georgia PSC in previous IRPs.”
The company is also adding 10 new battery storage facilities on eight different sites across the state, totaling 3,022.5 MWs, and two solar-plus-battery projects, totaling 350 MWs.
If approved, the two solar-plus-battery projects would be in Laurens and Doughtery Counties.
Construction is underway on 765 MW of new battery storage sites “strategically located” in Bibb, Lowndes, Floyd and Cherokee counties, the release said.
The company also filed a separate request to add more energy sooner by using existing power sources and building new battery and solar projects to meet more immediate needs.
Earlier this month, the PSC approved Georgia Power’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, and with that load demand in mind, Georgia Power filed a separate, additional request seeking approval to buy 1,886 MW of electricity from existing power plants, new battery storage systems and solar-plus-battery systems paired with solar, according to the release
In a third request, Georgia Power is also asking the PSC to approve 2,821 MW from eleven additional power purchase agreements with new battery and natural gas facilities currently being built in Georgia, according to the release.
Georgia Power says these additions will help keep the lights on for a fast-growing Georgia, reduce emissions and improve the flexibility of renewable energy use.
