Georgia Public Service Commission Issues Final Order on Data Center Power Plan - CleanTechnica

The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) has unanimously approved Georgia Power’s plan to construct what are projected to be the most expensive gas-fired power plants in the United States. The plan involves at least $15 billion in upfront capital costs, with total expenses potentially exceeding $60 billion over the lifespan of the assets. Although Georgia Power promised that the plan would exert “downward pressure” on energy rates, critics argue that it will instead lead to significantly higher electricity bills for Georgian consumers for many years. The power generated is intended to support data centers that may not even be built, raising concerns about the prudence and necessity of the investment. Environmental advocates, including the Sierra Club, have strongly criticized the PSC’s decision. Michael Hawthorne of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign condemned the plan as serving Georgia Power’s financial interests rather than the public’s, highlighting that the utility benefits financially from building costly fossil fuel infrastructure. The Sierra Club argues that gas plants are not a sound investment for ratepayers and