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GA — Power Infrastructure Updated January 8, 2026

Georgia

SERC Natural Gas Nuclear Solar Storage Data Center PPAs Queue Bottlenecks Transmission Constraints

Overview

Georgia is in the middle of an unprecedented power buildout. Georgia Power projects 8,200 MW of load growth by 2031—driven largely by data centers—and has active procurement for up to 9,500 MW of capacity and 3,500 MW of renewables. The state just completed Vogtle Unit 4, the nation’s newest nuclear reactor, and is adding combustion turbines, utility-scale batteries, and solar at scale.

Generation Projects

Natural Gas

Georgia Power is building new combustion turbine capacity to meet rising demand.

  • Plant Yates Units 8–10: Three simple-cycle combustion turbines totaling up to 1,400 MW, certified by the PSC in August 2024 and moving toward construction in the late 2020s.[1][2]
  • CT and capacity procurement pipeline: Georgia Power’s 2025 IRP includes plans for more than 2,065 MW of battery and CT resources by the end of 2027, plus active RFPs for up to 9,500 MW of capacity by 2030 as large-load demand grows.[1]

Nuclear

  • Plant Vogtle Unit 4: Entered commercial operation on April 29, 2024, completing the two new AP1000 reactors and materially expanding Georgia’s firm, zero-carbon supply for always-on loads like data centers.[3]

Solar

Georgia Power is procuring thousands of megawatts of solar to meet renewable energy targets and large-load demand.

  • Near-term solar paired with storage: A 200 MW solar project co-located with 200 MW of battery storage, targeted for winter 2026/2027 and using existing transmission interconnection for faster deployment.[2]
  • Large-scale solar procurement: Georgia Power has active RFPs for more than 3,500 MW of renewable energy by 2030 and intends to seek up to 4,000 MW of additional renewables by 2035, with near-term additions expected to be solar-heavy.[1]

Transmission and Grid

Georgia Power’s 2025 IRP includes a slate of strategic transmission projects to relieve south-to-north constraints, integrate new generation, and support large loads. Key 230 kV and 500 kV projects include:[1]

ProjectNeed dateStatus (IRP)
Heard County – Tenaska 500 kV (second line)12/1/2025Construction
Lagrange Primary – North Opelika 230 kV line6/1/2026Engineering
East Walton 500/230 kV area project6/1/2027Engineering
Dresden – Talbot 500 kV line6/1/2029Engineering
Ashley Park – Wansley 500 kV line6/1/2029Planning
Tenaska – Wansley 500 kV line6/1/2029Planning
Big Smarr – Tomochichi 500 kV line6/1/2030Planning
Rockville – Tiger Creek – Warthen 500 kV line6/1/2030Planning
Hatch – Wadley 500 kV line6/1/2031Planning

Georgia Transmission’s 2024 annual report describes unprecedented transmission growth driven by large loads such as data centers. The utility is executing major capital spending on multiple transmission line and substation projects, including two large 500 kV line initiatives, plus new large-load interconnection requirements and modeling upgrades.[4]

Battery Storage

Georgia Power is deploying utility-scale battery storage to support reliability and integrate renewables.

  • 500 MW BESS portfolio: Four projects (Moody, Robins, Hammond, McGrau Ford Phase II) approved by the PSC on December 12, 2024, targeted for online delivery in 2026–2027 to support large loads.[1]
  • Robins + Moody AFB BESS: 178 MW of 4-hour lithium-ion storage at existing Georgia Power solar facilities at Robins and Moody Air Force Bases, using existing interconnections for faster deployment.[2]
  • Co-located solar + storage: A new 200 MW solar project paired with 200 MW of battery storage for winter 2026/2027 capacity needs.[2]
  • Total BESS authority: Georgia Power requested authority to deploy up to 1,000 MW of battery storage by the end of 2027, using a mix of standalone and solar-paired projects as transmission capacity allows.[2]

Data Center Power Agreements

  • QTS renewable PPA: QTS signed a 20-year agreement under Georgia Power’s Customer Renewable Supply Procurement (CRSP) tariff for nearly 350 MW of new renewable energy to support its Atlanta-metro and Suwanee data center campuses.[5]
  • PSC oversight for large-load contracts: The PSC’s 100-MW rule requires Georgia Power to submit any new contract with a customer using 100 MW or more for Commission review, creating a public record for future large-load PPAs or power contracts.[6]

Interconnection Queue

Georgia’s interconnection queue is deep, driven by massive load growth and renewable procurement.

  • Load growth scale: Georgia Power’s 2025 IRP projects 8,200 MW of load growth from winter 2024/2025 to winter 2030/2031, and up to 9,400 MW through 2034/2035. The utility plans 9,000 MW of capacity additions by 2031 and has active RFPs for up to 9,500 MW of capacity and 3,500 MW of renewables by 2030.[1]
  • Large-load cost allocation: The PSC’s 100-MW rule requires large-load customers to pay for upstream generation, transmission, and distribution costs as construction progresses, with 15-year contract terms and minimum billing. This is designed to manage queue risk and protect ratepayers if large-load projects do not materialize.[6]
  • Transmission constraints: The 2025 IRP emphasizes strategic transmission work to relieve south-to-north constraints and support new generation and load. Georgia Transmission’s annual report confirms that large-load integration is driving extensive 115 kV/230 kV work plus new 500 kV projects and new interconnection procedures.[1][4]

What to Watch

  • Georgia Power’s 2025 IRP implementation: The PSC approved the IRP in July 2025, authorizing the capacity and renewable procurement roadmap through 2035.[7]
  • Large-load contract disclosures: As new 100 MW+ customers sign contracts, the PSC’s review process will reveal which data centers are securing power and on what terms.
  • Transmission project delivery: The suite of 500 kV projects listed in the IRP will determine whether Georgia can integrate new generation and serve large loads without major delays.

Sources

[1] Georgia Power Company, “Georgia Power Company’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan,” creation date January 30, 2025 (PDF metadata), https://www.selc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-IRP-Main-Document.pdf (accessed January 8, 2026).

[2] Georgia Power Company, “Georgia Power Company’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan Update,” creation date October 26, 2023 (PDF metadata), https://www.georgiapower.com/content/dam/georgia-power/pdfs/company-pdfs/2023-irp-update-main-document.pdf (accessed January 8, 2026).

[3] Georgia Power, “Vogtle Unit 4 enters commercial operation,” press release, April 29, 2024, https://www.georgiapower.com/news-hub/press-releases/vogtle-unit-4-enters-commercial-operation.html (accessed January 8, 2026).

[4] Georgia Transmission Corporation, “2024 Georgia Transmission Annual Report,” March 28, 2025, https://www.gatransmission.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2024-Georgia-Transmission-Annual-Report.pdf (accessed January 8, 2026).

[5] QTS Realty Trust, “QTS Signs Agreement with Georgia Power That Adds Nearly 350 Megawatts of New Renewable Energy to the Power Grid in Atlanta,” March 17, 2022, https://qtsdatacenters.com/news/qts-signs-agreement-with-georgia-power-that-adds-nearly-350-megawatts-of-new-renewable-energy-to-the-power-grid-in-atlanta/ (accessed January 8, 2026).

[6] Georgia Public Service Commission, “PSC Approves Rule to Allow New Power Usage Terms for Data Centers,” news release, January 23, 2025, https://psc.ga.gov/site/assets/files/8617/media_advisory_data_centers_rule_1-23-2025.pdf (accessed January 8, 2026).

[7] Georgia Public Service Commission, “Commissioners Approve 2025 IRP,” news release, July 15, 2025, https://psc.ga.gov/site/assets/files/8932/media_advisory_2025_irp_vote.pdf (accessed January 8, 2026).