WC Georgia News

Georgia Power has filed an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to support the state's significant economic growth and increasing energy demand. The plan outlines the deployment of new generation resources, including renewable energy, battery storage systems, and distributed energy resources, to meet the state's energy needs while transitioning to cleaner resources. The company anticipates adding approximately 10,000 MW of new renewable resources by 2035, nearly doubling the previous projection, and remains committed to reliability and resiliency through grid enhancements.

According to a press release by Georgia Power, the company's plan, if approved, aims to deploy new generation resources to meet Georgia's growing energy demand, including the certification of power purchase agreements (PPAs) and the expansion of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and renewable energy resources. They also plan to construct new solar resources and simple-cycle combustion turbines, in line with their commitment to transition to cleaner energy sources. This transition will see the addition of approximately 10,000 MW of new renewable resources by 2035, supporting the grid's reliability and resilience.

Georgia Power, as the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company, serves 2.7 million customers across most of Georgia's counties. The company maintains a diverse energy generation mix, including nuclear, coal, natural gas, and renewables like solar, hydroelectric, and wind.

In a press release by Georgia Power, CEO Kim Greene said: "Georgia has continued to experience rapid economic growth since the filing of our IRP in early 2022. Many businesses coming to the state are bringing large electrical demands at both a record scale and velocity. It's an exciting time to have the privilege to serve this great state, and this IRP Update outlines how Georgia Power can best continue supporting that historic growth while continuing to provide our customers with the clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy they expect and deserve."

According to McKinsey, Georgia's economy has shown notable signs of recovery from the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state has demonstrated strong performance in key metrics such as population growth, employment figures, and real GDP growth, placing it in the top quartile among U.S. states. McKinsey notes that one significant factor contributing to this economic resilience has been the thriving business environment in Georgia, which has led to historically low unemployment rates in both 2021 and 2022. As a result, the state has seen a net increase of 133,000 employed individuals and a decrease of 43,000 in the number of unemployed people compared to pre-pandemic levels.