Press Mention Bisnow December 15, 2024
SACE Quoted
Georgia Public Service Commission Refuses to Delay Grid Expansion Vote
In this mention
The Georgia Public Service Commission denied a request by the Sierra Club and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy to delay its final vote on a $15 billion grid expansion until after two newly elected Democratic commissioners take office on January 1. SACE executive director Stephen Smith criticized the decision, arguing the commissioners' overwhelming electoral victories (each with over 60% of the vote) represent a clear mandate from Georgia ratepayers for change. The PSC is scheduled to vote on the nearly 10-gigawatt expansion on December 19, driven by surging data center demand that has caused Georgia's data center capacity to skyrocket from 1,600 MW in 2021 to over 19,600 MW in 2024.
The fact that this vote was so overwhelming indicates that there is a desire to have a new perspective on the commission. We think this is another indication that the existing commission is largely tone-deaf to the consumers they're supposed to protect.
Stephen A. Smith