Georgia energy regulators voted unanimously Tuesday to hold hearings this fall on a Georgia Power request to certify 9,900 megawatts of new power-generating capacity. Environmentalists say it would rely heavily on harmful fossil fuels.
The plan calls for adding about 8,000 megawatts of capacity by building new gas-burning turbines at plants in Cartersville, Carrollton, and Effingham County. The utility’s “all source” request for proposals also would include purchasing gas produced at existing plants, construction of new battery energy storage systems, and a combination of the two.
More than 80% of the new capacity would be used to meet a growing demand for electricity to serve power-hungry data centers that are springing up across Georgia.
The first set of hearings before the Public Service Commission (PSC) will take place in October, followed by a second round in early December. The commission is scheduled to vote on the certification request Dec. 19.
