Energy Department Loans Money For Georgia Power’s Gas Fleet - CleanTechnica

The U.S. Department of Energy has approved a loan to Southern Company to support its subsidiary Georgia Power in constructing what will become the largest and most expensive gas-fired power fleet in the nation. This project involves building new combined cycle gas turbines at three plants in Georgia: Plant Bowen, Plant Wansley, and Plant McIntosh. The financial burden of these new turbines is expected to fall on Georgia Power’s ratepayers for the next 45 years. Environmental groups, notably the Sierra Club, have strongly criticized the decision. Sierra Club Campaign Organizing Strategist Michael Hawthorne argued that the investment primarily benefits data centers rather than everyday Georgians and labeled it a poor use of taxpayer money that props up a declining fossil fuel industry. He emphasized that the project will lead to higher electricity costs, increased air pollution, and long-term harm to communities and public health. The Sierra Club advocates instead for investment in cleaner, more affordable energy alternatives that serve the broader population.