SACE Statement on Georgia Power’s proposed Integrated Resource Plan

Atlanta, Ga. – Yesterday Georgia Power, the state’s largest monopoly utility, submitted a new Integrated Resource Plan to the Georgia Public Service Commission. In response to this filing, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy issued this statement:

Georgia Power’s new resource plan would have been considered bold nine years ago, but this plan is behind the times. While we commend Georgia Power for retiring approximately 1,000 megawatts of coal-fired capacity at Plants Hammond and McIntosh, the utility is only acknowledging the inevitable with the retirement of these two minimally-operating coal plants.

Its plan to build another 1,000 megawatts of solar is welcome, but less than was approved in its 2016 plan, and the cost of utility-scale solar energy has dropped as much as 34 percent since then.

Furthermore, with Georgia Power’s own energy efficiency programs showing $6 in savings for every $1 invested, it is bad news that they are sticking with a status quo plan.

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy calls on the Georgia Public Service Commission to give the state’s monopoly utility company the public oversight required to protect the interests of Georgia’s consumers and businesses.

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About the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Since 1985, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has worked to promote responsible energy choices to ensure clean, safe and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. Learn more at www.cleanenergy.org.