Raising Your Voice Matters!
Over the years, our Georgia Public Service Commissioners have approved most of Georgia Power's energy sourcing requests, with some decisions proving detrimental to both our climate and Georgia citizens. Here are two recent examples:
​
Approving Georgia Power’s Massive Fossil Fuel Expansion in 2024
​
In April of 2024, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) approved Georgia Power's off-cycle IRP request to burn more fossil fuels to attract large-load customers, including data centers. This additional energy was not necessary for existing customers' needs. The approved plan authorizes Georgia Power to build three new methane gas and oil-burning units at Plant Yates, with a 46-year life span that could lock in Georgia's fossil fuel dependence for decades. The agreement also includes purchasing energy from Georgia Power's sister company Mississippi Power, delaying the retirement of Plant Daniel, a coal-burning facility. Both plants are situated near low-income communities of color, raising immediate health concerns for nearby residents.
​
Research and Opposition to Fossil Fuel Expansion
​
The Commissioners approved this massive fossil fuel investment despite research from major universities and national laboratories indicating that electricity sector transformation must happen faster than previously thought. While earlier timelines targeted 2050, current research suggests clean electricity systems must be achieved by 2035-2040 to meet climate targets. The Biden administration established this goal and offered financial incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to help utilities meet it.
​
Many environmental, consumer advocate, and business groups officially intervened to cross-examine Georgia Power witnesses and provide expert testimony. "It is absolutely clear that we have to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels, not be building more of them and locking them in for decades to come," said Brionté McCorkle of Georgia Conservation Voters. Several groups argued that utilities could meet projected load growth through regional transmission, renewable energy storage, and demand-side efficiency. Analysis by the Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, demonstrates that renewable options like solar and battery storage can meet likely energy demands.
​
Public Health and Environmental Concerns
​
During the IRP proceedings, public speakers, including healthcare professionals, voiced opposition to expanding fossil fuel use, expressing concerns about visible health impacts. The Fifth National Climate Assessment emphasizes climate change's disproportionate impact on the South through extreme heat waves, sea level rise, flooding, and increasingly volatile storms.
​
Critics also point to natural gas as a poor investment, citing volatile fuel prices and new air pollution regulations. These regulations are expected to end coal-powered electricity generation and limit natural gas use—especially in new construction. By 2032, new gas generators would be restricted to operating 20% to 40% of the time without advances in carbon capture technology. If Georgia Power plans to follow scientific guidelines for fossil fuel emission reductions, these new gas plants will become stranded assets, making them considerably more wasteful and costly compared to investments in solar and batteries.
​
Failing to Expand the Rooftop Solar Net Metering Pilot
​​​
Georgia has excellent rooftop solar potential, which could significantly reduce the state's energy demand, particularly during peak hours. Peak demand occurs during summer months on hot, sunny days between 2 PM and 7 PM. During much of this five-hour period, rooftop solar panels can produce enough electricity to power their host buildings and feed excess power back into the grid.
​
Net Metering Policies and Their Impact
​
However, Georgia currently ranks 43rd in the US for rooftop solar adoption. As Dr. Marilyn Brown explained in her testimony during the 2022 IRP hearings, this low ranking stems from our net metering policies. States with favorable net metering policies have higher rooftop solar adoption rates, while those with unfavorable policies have lower rates. At least 33 states credit excess customer-generated electricity at the retail rate, and most maintain these policies. This approach is crucial for expanding rooftop solar adoption.
​
In 2019, the Georgia PSC created a small rooftop pilot program using this retail-rate approach, which proved highly successful. New solar applications increased by 300% in under 12 months during the global pandemic, and the 5,000 available slots filled quickly. Despite strong advocacy from environmental groups, solar companies, and the public, Commissioners chose not to expand the program during the 2022 IRP.
​
This decision largely resulted from Georgia Power's objection that expanding net metering would shift costs to non-solar customers. However, during the 2022 IRP hearings, witnesses Alden M. Hathaway and Kevin Lucas presented data and examples from other utilities demonstrating how distributed solar generation can enhance overall system load factors, improving reliability and resilience while potentially reducing costs for all customers.
​
Economic Benefits of Rooftop Solar
​
Rooftop solar offers numerous economic benefits:
-
The rooftop solar industry's growth would create many good-paying jobs, as it requires more labor than utility-scale solar.
-
If Georgia reinstated true net metering, reaching Drawdown Georgia's target of 295,000 solar rooftops could bring in nearly $250 million annually in IRA funds, according to Alden Hathaway. Dr. Marilyn Brown estimates Georgia has already forfeited $429 million in government funding due to policies that discourage rooftop solar growth.
-
Churches and schools with solar installations could reduce energy costs significantly, redirecting savings to community services and education. These buildings, equipped with solar and battery storage, could serve as emergency centers during power outages and extreme weather events.
-
Solar-equipped homes with batteries could assist neighbors during outages by providing shelter and preserving perishable food.
-
Reduced fossil fuel dependence would decrease air pollution, leading to fewer health problems and lower healthcare costs for Georgians.​
​
Georgia Power's decision not to expand its rooftop solar net metering pilot program is particularly disappointing given the growing potential of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). VPPs operate similarly to traditional power plants by aggregating thousands of distributed energy resources—like rooftop solar panels and home batteries—into a single, controllable power source. Just as a conventional power plant can ramp up or down to meet demand, VPPs can coordinate these distributed resources to provide reliable power to the grid. By failing to expand rooftop solar access, Georgia Power has missed an opportunity to develop a more resilient and flexible grid system that could have provided clean backup power during emergencies while reducing the need for new fossil fuel infrastructure.