Georgia Power plan extends the life of coal, adds renewables

By Jeffrey Tomich | 02/03/2025 06:53 AM EST

Tech industry demand is driving the energy buildout and a decision to keep two large coal plants running until at least 2035.

Georgia Power Co.'s Plant Scherer.

Georgia Power Co.'s Plant Scherer. Georgia Power

Georgia Power, one of the nation’s largest utilities, revealed its triennial plan for meeting a continuing surge in electricity demand by upgrading and extending the life of units at two large coal plants and adding new renewable energy, battery storage and transmission.

In the 167-page integrated resource plan (IRP) filed Friday with the Georgia Public Service Commission, the utility said it plans to extend the operation of coal-fired plants Bowen and Scherer to at least 2035. The announcement comes three years after the utility’s last IRP when it announced plans to retire the plants by 2028.

Atlanta-based Georgia Power said it plans to upgrade a gas-fired power plant near Savannah, adding 268 megawatts of capacity. It also plans to add 1,100 MW of new renewables, build 1,000 miles of new transmission, add battery storage and invest in programs to reduce electricity demand.

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The sweeping 167-page plan echoes a trend playing out nationally: utilities scrambling to add new infrastructure to meet sharp increases in projected electricity demand from data centers to enable artificial intelligence, industrial plants and electric vehicles.

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