Georgia Power’s coal grab would mean a dirtier South
Georgia Power wants to burn more fossil fuel — a lot more.
The monopoly utility is walking back promises to retire coal plants and doubling down on dirty and unpredictably priced fossil fuels to meet a surge of energy demand. Utilities across the South are using its same argument — that the utility’s successful recruitment of data centers warrants burning more coal and methane gas instead of investing in clean, renewable options to meet the demand.
Data center surge
Metro Atlanta is a new data center hotspot, but there is sparse public information on how many more warehouses filled with energy-guzzling supercomputers are coming to the state. Georgia Power says more than 80 percent of their newly projected large load growth is coming from data centers. That’s more energy than it takes to power the state of Montana.
However, Georgia Power has a history of overestimating how much energy its customers really need.
Why it matters
If the data center boom doesn’t materialize, Georgia Power’s residential customers may be on the hook for even more bill increases.
- Fossil fuels are also unpredictably priced. In 2023 the average residential customer’s bill climbed about $16 because of a spike in the cost of methane gas. The Georgia legislature protects Georgia Power from paying extra when fossil prices spike: they pass all those costs along in bills.
Georgia Power doesn’t view building too many power plants as a risk — because its shareholders make money either way. It’s regular Georgians who have to pay the bill.
Jennifer Whitfield, SELC Senior Attorney
The alternative
The cheapest megawatt of energy is the one you don’t use. Energy efficiency includes weatherizing businesses and homes so less power is needed to keep the temperature comfortable, and using appliances with modern technology that perform the same function with less power. Georgia Power does not prioritize energy efficiency programs and lags the national average for energy savings.
- Southface Institute’s GoodUse program helps nonprofits improve the efficiency of their facilities, so energy savings go to their core mission, not power bills.
- 615+ communities across 33 states, have seen a 30 percent reduction in energy costs through the GoodUse program.
- GoodUse nonprofits save 21,445 metric tons of CO2e emissions annually — the same amount produced by 5,002 gas cars driven for a year.
When customers can reduce their own energy costs, they have more money to meet other needs. Energy efficiency programs even benefit utilities by reducing peak demand.
Thomas Farmer, Southface Institute VP for advocacy
Harnessing Georgia’s sunshine
Unlike expensive, dirty coal and methane gas, solar fuel is clean and free. While Georgia Power is asking for some additional solar and battery storage, it is a small fraction of its plan to meet data center demand. The utility refuses to expand its popular net metering program that allows residential customers to sell unused solar back to the company and is aggressively fighting legislation that would legalize bill-reducing community solar projects in parts of Georgia.
- Georgia Interfaith Power and Light’s works with faith communities and religious schools to expand access to reduce their energy bills and carbon impact.
- The 25 solar installations completed have added 620 kilowatts in total solar capacity and offset more than 3,500 metric tons of carbon annually.
“Solar is a severely untapped resource in Georgia that could offer a critical lifeline for many low-wealth communities,” says Codi Norred, executive director of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL). “We’ve seen on-site solar reduce bills and build resiliency in many faith communities in Georgia. More solar on the grid will hedge against volatile fossil fuel prices and rising energy costs. For the long-term sustainability and resilience of our state, we must invest more in community-based renewable infrastructure, lowering the financial and health costs of simply turning the lights on.”
We must invest more in community-based renewable infrastructure, lowering infrastructure lowering the financial and health costs of simply turning the lights on.
Codi Norred, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light
Coal on life support
Just three years ago, Georgia Power called the retiring of its coal fleet “in the best interest of all customers” because of “declining economics of these resources, it is not cost-effective to invest in their long-term operation…”
- Now Georgia Power is walking back commitments to retire fossil fuel burning units at two power plants:
- Plant Scherer’s coal fired units located in Juliette, Georgia
- Plant Gaston’s methane gas and oil-fired units with coal backup located in Wilsonville, Alabama
- Plant Bowen coal fired units, located in Euharlee, Georgia, will also stay online.
What comes next?
Georgia Power’s request triggers a monthslong courtroom-style proceeding with Georgia’s Public Service Commission. The commission’s five elected members will ultimately decide if Georgia Power is allowed to burn more fossil fuels.
What is SELC doing?
On behalf of GIPL and Southface Institute, we will keep participating in those proceedings to make sure Georgians aren’t on the hook for new and expanded dirty, expensive fossil fuels just so Georgia Power can cash in on data centers.
- Instead, we’re asking Georgia Power support and expand measures that reduce energy and save customers money, including affordable rooftop and community solar, energy efficiency and demand side management programs.
Take action now
Tell the Public Service Commission that Georgians are tired of paying for dirty fossil fuels and demand clean, affordable energy and a break from skyrocketing Georgia Power bills.