Environment

Georgia Power seeks to extend lifespan of coal-fired power plants

February 24, 2025

By David Pendered

Feb. 24 – Georgia Power wants to extend the lifespan of coal-fired power plants to meet Georgia’s energy needs, including the power-hungry electric transportation manufacturing sector, data centers and solar power manufacturing.

Georgia Power proposes to extend the operation of Plant Bowen’s four coal-fired units and Plant Scherer’s three coal-fired units through 2035 or 2038. The utility also wants to extend to 2034 the life of Plant Gaston in Alabama, a gas-powered plant that uses coal for the back-up fuel source. Some of these units were to close as soon as the last day of 2028.

Georgia Power wants to extend the lifespan of coal-fired power plants to meet Georgia’s expected energy needs. (Credit: Georgia Power)

The utility described its proposals in the Integrated Resource Plan filed Jan. 31 with the state’s utility regulator. The Georgia Public Service Commission has authority to accept, reject or negotiate changes in the proposed IRP. Three public hearings are scheduled: March 25-28, May 27-30 and a rebuttal hearing on June 23-25.

The IRP goes to some length to identify aspects of Georgia’s economy that call for the production of more energy than was anticipated five years ago. The utility cites data from Gov. Brian Kemp’s office as well as its own resources in the attempt to make the case that extending the lifespan of coal-fired plants is in the state’s best economic interest.

The IRP observes on page 31:

“New and expanding economic development projects in Georgia have progressed more rapidly and on a larger scale than in previous years. Growth in emerging industries such as electric transportation (“ET”), data centers, and solar manufacturing have accelerated since 2021.”

The IRP identifies various steps Georgia Power intends to take to comply with environmental laws and regulations over the release of greenhouse gases emitted by burning coal and the requirements to properly manage the hazardous waste created by burnt coal. Georgia Power states it intends to continue to refine and optimize closure plans at existing coal ash ponds.

In 2024, coal generated 16 percent of the energy created by Georgia Power. Natural gas was by far the largest source of power, at 40 percent, followed by nuclear, 29 percent; renewables, 7 percent, and less than 1 percent from oil-fired resources. The remaining 6 percent is categorized as null energy, which is power remaining when renewables and other such sources are removed, according to the IRP.