ATLANTA, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia
Power today joined with Governor Brian
Kemp and the Georgia Department of Economic Development to
welcome Rivian – a world-class electric sport utility vehicle
and pickup company – to Georgia.
The company, which places a focus on sustainability and positive
environmental impact and was named the 2022 MotorTrend Truck of the
Year, selected Georgia for a
nearly 13 million square foot plant for vehicle and battery
operations along Interstate 20 near Social Circle.
Today's announcement is the latest example of the success of
targeted statewide economic development efforts such as the
Electric Mobility Innovation Alliance (EMIA), launched in July by
Governor Kemp. The goal of the EMIA is to bring together leaders
from the public and private sector, as well as researchers and
utilities such as Georgia Power, to ensure the state's economic
recruitment efforts and Georgia's
laws, rules and regulations welcome the growing electric
transportation and battery charging industry and workforce
development opportunities.
"This is a tremendous victory for the state of Georgia and is another great example of the
longstanding partnership between the state government and the
business community on bringing new jobs to the state and growing
our economy. It's because of that collaboration Georgia remains a top choice for some of the
world's most innovative companies," said Chris Womack, president, chairman and CEO of
Georgia Power. "On behalf of Georgia Power, we welcome Rivian to
Georgia today. This announcement
is especially exciting against the backdrop of the investments we
have made as a state in electric vehicles and transportation,
including a network of nearly 1,000 public charging stations from
multiple partners now available across Georgia. We're excited to see the impact
Rivian and their expertise will have in our state."
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Georgia and
throughout the Southeast region continue to shift their product
lines to keep up with the increasing production of electric
vehicles. Georgia Power, in partnership with the State of
Georgia, currently supports the EV
needs of several OEMs including Kia, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and
Volkswagen. Several other EV industry leaders in addition to Rivian
have already made the move to locate or expand
to Georgia in recent years including battery producer SK
Innovation and EnChem; as well as modules and storage systems
producer Duckyang; charging station leader Heliox; and all-electric
bus manufacturer Blue Bird to meet the growing ecosystem needs for
residential and business customers across the country.
Georgia's evolving
automotive industry
To
date, Georgia is home to more than 200 automotive-related
facilities that contribute more than $3 billion annually
to the state's economy. In 2021, Georgia boasted 977,000
workers to support these operations and facilities. Additionally,
the state's growing EV and battery production industry created
5,700 new jobs and $3 billion in new
capital investment before Rivian's announcement. The state
currently ranks sixth in the nation for EV charging infrastructure
and is currently the top state in the Southeast for EV customer
adoption.
Georgia Power continues to support the State of Georgia in proactive efforts to
attract multibillion-dollar companies involved in the production,
recycling, and development of the auto manufacturing industry and
EV supply chain.
Georgia Power also recently partnered with the University of Georgia's College of Engineering to
create an e-Mobility Certificate program. With elements of
engineering, public policy, public health, and business acumen,
this new program will prepare Georgia's workforce for an electrified
transportation future. The company is also working closely with
design students at Georgia Tech to
evaluate the environmental benefits and future workforce
opportunities of transportation electrification.
Earlier this year, Georgia Power joined Southern Company and
utilities across the South, Midwest, Gulf Coast, Central Plains and
mid-Atlantic to enable EV drivers' seamless travel through a
coordinated network of charging stations. The Electric Highway
Coalition will enable increased charging options along major
highway routes from Texas to
Washington, DC to provide easier
access to EV options for drivers.
For more information about the benefits of electric
transportation and how Georgia Power is leading the way in charging
capabilities across the state, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/ET.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's
premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and
Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.6
million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to
delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates
below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse,
innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural
gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind.
Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its
customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as
an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information,
visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on
Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter
(Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram
(Instagram.com/ga_power).
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SOURCE Georgia Power