Georgia power regulators are facing a new lawsuit this week, after a coalition of faith, environmental and clean energy groups claimed they approved nearly 10 gigawatts of new energy generation last year without establishing the need for at least a third of the expansion.
Georgia Interfaith Power and Light and other groups allege in their suit filed in state court Wednesday that the Georgia Public Service Commission violated state law when it granted Georgia Power’s request for a certificate of capacity to build additional energy resources from 2029 to 2031.
The utility plans to build or buy 28 energy resources by the winter of 2031, primarily to meet demand increases from planned data centers in the state. One of those resources includes a new gas unit at Plant McIntosh, which is projected to be one of the most expensive gas plants in the country, the groups warned in their lawsuit filed in the Fulton County Superior Court.
The expansion in electricity-generating resources will cost Georgia ratepayers an estimated $50 billion to $60 billion over the lifetime of the projects, the lawsuit said.
