PSC Staff reverses course on data center concerns, endorses Georgia Power’s fossil fuel reliant plan

ATLANTA — In a stunning reversal to expert claims that Georgia Power’s fossil fuel heavy plan to meet data centers’ needs is a risk to customers, Georgia Public Service Commission Public Interest Advocacy Staff (Staff) and Georgia Power have reached a settlement agreement that, if approved by commissioners, would allow the company to acquire 10 GW (about five Hoover Dams’ worth) of energy resources, including five brand new methane gas burning power units. In return, Georgia Power has committed to “downward pressure” on customers’ bills of at least $8.50 a month for 2029-2031.

The terms of the Georgia Power and staff settlement agreement also include:

• Approval of nearly 8GW of resources, including five methane gas burning units Georgia Power would build, decided by a request for proposal process.
• An additional nearly 2GW of “supplemental” resources in addition to the capacity approved by the commission back in July.
• The proposed settlement includes a promise that if an asset Georgia Power is building, including the five new methane gas power plants, exceed its estimated cost to build, the company can’t request an increase until at least 6 months before commercial operation.

“Despite unprecedented public attention this fall demanding a new direction for Georgia’s energy future, it’s deeply disappointing to see commission staff and Georgia Power agree to lock customers into decades of dirty fossil-fuel infrastructure,” said Codi Norred, Executive Director of Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL). “This massive investment of methane gas isn’t just shortsighted; it threatens the health and well-being of faithful Georgians for generations.”

“This is an extraordinary ask that will impact our state for decades. We must be cleared-eyed on what this means for the long term, and not be blinded by short term bill relief,” said Thomas Farmer, VP of advocacy at the Southface Institute. “Georgians deserve load growth done right — not just fast.  This agreement gives Georgia Power everything they’ve asked for with very little in return for regular Georgians.”

“This agreement exchanges four decades of costs for three years of potential future bill relief.  Bill relief is desperately needed, but it is impossible to look past the reality that this agreement greenlights Georgia Power to massively overbuild energy resources with devastating environmental and financial risks,” said Jennifer Whitfield, a senior attorney in SELC’s Georgia office. “This agreement guarantees dirtier air, water, and health threats for communities living where these new methane plants would be built.”