The Georgia Public Service Commission approved Georgia Power’s 2022 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) at the end of last week. The plan is part of a requirement by the Public Service Commission to outline how the utility will provide energy to its 2.7 million customers over the next two decades. The plan’s long timeline allows for changing power plant resources and incorporates demographic data, load estimates and economic growth.
“As Georgia continues to grow and the energy landscape continues to evolve, it’s incredibly important that we keep making the smart investments needed for our customers to have clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy for decades to come. The approval of our latest Integrated Resource Plan helps us do just that,” said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. “Working constructively with the Georgia Public Service Commission, we are committed to building the future of energy for our state, and these investments in our electric grid and energy infrastructure will help ensure that every customer, whether at home or running a business, has the energy they need to thrive.”
Most significantly, as Georgia Power has previously announced, the utility will be retiring all of its coal-fired plants by 2028, with the exception of one, Plant Bowen. What is next for Plant Bowen will be under review at the next IRP in 2025. Some of the gap from the coal retirement will be made up with natural gas, in addition to additional solar and other renewable sources. The utility expects to double its renewable portfolio by 2035.
“Today’s vote by the GAPSC will significantly increase clean energy production, capacity, and storage,” said Theresa Garcia Robertson, Conservatives for Clean Energy Georgia State Director. “These improvements to the renewable energy environment in Georgia will have a lasting impact. CCEGA applauds all five commissioners for their commitment to clean energy and to growing Georgia’s economy through a market-driven process.”
The news of Georgia Power’s approval came the same day that a report out of New York showed the shutdown of the Indian Point nuclear plant there led to a “near-total dependence on fossil fuels to produce electricity in New York’s energy-hungry downstate region.” In 2021, 89% of energy in the downstate region came from natural gas and oil, compared to 77% in 2020 when Indian Point was still in operation. For those concerned about the use of fossil fuels – though there is a big difference in environmental impact between natural gas and other fossil fuels, nuclear power has a significant benefit. It has been many years in the making – and there have been issues – but Georgia Power and Southern Company’s will soon be sitting on a very shiny, new, fossil fuel-free power plant creating an astonishing amount of power.
