Georgia Public Service Commission Votes to Increase Use of Fossil Fuels Amid Clean Energy Boom, Threatening Clean Energy Economy in Georgia

Atlanta, GA — Today, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) voted to approve Georgia Power’s Integrated Resource Plan, which includes three brand new turbines to be powered with oil and natural gas. The plan also includes funding to keep coal-fired power plants open until 2035, instead of closing them by 2028 as originally planned. This dangerous move, spearheaded by five Republican commissioners, comes as Georgia leads the nation’s clean energy boom — critical progress the state risks losing.

“Today’s decision is a move in the wrong direction. As Georgia becomes a hub for the national clean energy boom thanks to President Biden’s clean energy plan, the Public Service Commission voted to take us backward by putting dirty energy sources back online,” said Climate Power’s States Interim Managing Director André Crombie. “Rather than listening to Georgians’ request and protecting the state’s air and water while creating good-paying clean energy jobs, the Georgia Public Service Commission is taking the easy way out, investing in dirty energy resources and letting Georgians foot the bill.”

President Biden’s clean energy plan has so far created more than 29,000 good-paying clean energy jobs and $23 billion in investment in Georgia in just the past year and a half. Georgia ranks second in the nation for new clean energy projects, seeing 40 new clean energy projects since 2022. Georgia Power’s plan to rely on fossil fuels jeopardizes not only Georgia’s clean energy economy, but also the health and safety of Georgia’s residents.  

Opposition to Georgia Power’s newly approved plan includes: 

• During the PSC hearings, health care professionals reminded the commission of the negative impacts of climate change and air pollution on health, from heat-related illness to worsening asthma and allergies to water-borne pathogens due to floods.
• Georgia high school and college students urged the commission to reject the use of fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change.
• The Department of Defense, one of Georgia Power’s largest customers, opposed Georgia Power’s new Integrated Resource Plan, saying the plan didn’t account for the Department of Defense’s mandate to use only carbon-free energy by 2030.
• Even Republican Governor Brian Kemp told world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that “the state needs more carbon-free energy to meet industry demands.” 

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