Georgia Power

The 11th Circuit ruled a lawsuit against Georgia Power Company and Honeywell International for mercury and PCB pollution must be heard in federal court under the federal officer removal statute, as the companies' cleanup obligations are directed by the EPA. The case, initially sent to state court, involves a 2016 EPA consent decree requiring a $29 million cleanup of a polluted marsh site.

Georgia Power is expanding Plant Bowen with natural gas turbines and battery storage despite environmental concerns over air quality in the Atlanta region. The project, supported by a $26.5 billion federal loan, aims to add 1,500 megawatts of natural gas capacity and 500 megawatts of battery storage to meet growing energy demand, particularly from data centers.

Albany, Georgia, held public sessions to address community concerns about potential data centers and a planned natural gas-fired power plant. Residents from majority-Black Dougherty County and majority-white Mitchell County are collaborating over shared environmental concerns, particularly the impact on the shared aquifer. A sociologist highlighted the intersection of utilities and civil rights in discussions about data center development.

Georgia Power is expanding its energy grid with over 1,000 miles of transmission lines to support new AI data centers, displacing hundreds of property owners through eminent domain. Affected residents, including Ansley Brown, face forced relocation or property loss as the project progresses.

OpenAI plans to build a $20 billion data center campus near Savannah, Georgia, called Project Camellia, which will require 3.2 gigawatts of power. The company pledged to avoid increasing local electricity or water costs and will provide community benefits and AI credits for Georgia students.

OpenAI is constructing a $20 billion AI data center campus near Savannah, Georgia. The project, named Project Camellia, will require 3.2 gigawatts of power from Georgia Power in phases from 2028 to 2032.

Georgia utility regulators approved an investigation into whether industrial energy consumers, including data centers, are shifting costs to residential customers. The probe, part of a May agreement adjusting cost-passing rules, examines a pricing structure that could raise residential electricity costs by 11% monthly by 2028. Environmental advocates supported the move, while Georgia Power opposed expanding the investigation's scope.

Governor Brian Kemp met with OpenAI and Georgia Power in Atlanta to discuss the company's business plans, including potential data center projects and economic development in Georgia. OpenAI's representatives included leaders in site readiness and development, while the meeting's details remain unclear. The state has an Office of Artificial Intelligence and OpenAI is involved in a national data center project with Oracle and SoftBank.

The Trump administration announced $17.5 billion in loans to accelerate the development of 10 new large nuclear reactors, aiming to address rising electricity demand from data centers. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the use of Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor design, which was previously used at Georgia Power Co.’s Plant Vogtle, and projected improved cost and timeline performance compared to past projects.

Georgia's Public Service Commission (PSC) District 3 race requires a recount after Fitz Johnson defeated Brandon Martin by 2,947 votes in the May 19 Republican primary, triggering Georgia's 0.5% margin rule. Counties are using ballot scanners to complete the recount by June 26, with some starting after certifying recent runoff results.

A husband has been receiving text messages from Georgia Power about a bill for an Atlanta address, despite not living in Georgia and having no account with the company. The account name is nearly identical to his, differing only by a middle initial, and the representative confirmed no matching social security number. The phone number was removed from the account, but concerns about identity theft remain.

The Georgia Public Service Commission race is testing party loyalty as voters prioritize concerns over recent power bill hikes and data center growth. A Republican voter, Nancy Lubeck, supports Democratic candidates for the commission due to dissatisfaction with rate increases and infrastructure decisions favoring data centers. Republicans currently hold a 3-2 majority, but Democrats aim to flip control in the November election.

Georgia regulators and Georgia Power agreed to lower near-term electricity costs, but the savings may be temporary as the utility could pass data center expenses to consumers and profit from climate-related storm costs. The settlement in Georgia's largest utility proceedings this year has drawn mixed reactions from customers and advocates.

The Georgia Public Service Commission approved a fuel rate decrease for Georgia Power, effective June 1, which is expected to lower power bills for millions of Georgians. The decision followed a deal between Georgia Power, the commission’s public interest advocacy staff, and intervening parties, resulting in a $4 monthly reduction for a typical 1000-kilowatt-hour customer. The change offsets hurricane cleanup costs and addresses concerns about cost-shifting to ordinary customers.

The Georgia Public Service Commission race for District 5 will proceed to a June runoff after no Republican candidate secured 50% of the primary vote. Shelia Edwards won the Democratic nomination for District 5, while Fitz Johnson advanced in the GOP primary for District 3 and will likely face Democratic incumbent Peter Hubbard in a rematch. The commission, which regulates Georgia Power and faces scrutiny over energy bill increases, remains a focal point of political competition.

QTS is developing a data center complex in Fayetteville, Georgia, which will consume electricity equivalent to about a million US households. The project is backed by Blackstone and is expected to put a strain on local utility infrastructure. Georgia Power is working to build the necessary infrastructure to meet the increased demand.

Ten candidates are competing for two seats on Georgia’s Public Service Commission in the May 19 primary. The commission oversees utilities like Georgia Power, influencing energy costs and the state’s climate future. The election could determine majority control of the commission, following a shift in political representation last year.

The AI-driven data center boom is causing energy bills to rise sharply. Georgia Power, the largest energy provider in the state, has increased rates six times in three years.

Georgia Power has approved a program allowing data centers and other large customers to fund their own new clean energy projects connected to the utility’s grid, following years of negotiations. The Georgia Public Service Commission approved the initiative, creating a pathway for these companies to pay for and implement their own energy solutions.