2022 Integrated Resource Plan focused on
transformation of generation fleet and electric grid; transition
from coal generation to cleaner, more economical renewable and
solar energy resources; investments in reliability and resilience;
and diverse, flexible customer programs
ATLANTA, July 21,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Public Service
Commission (PSC) today approved Georgia Power's 2022 Integrated
Resource Plan (IRP), which sets forth a proactive, innovative and
transformational roadmap for how Georgia Power will continue to
meet the energy needs of customers, local communities and the
State of Georgia for future
generations.
"As Georgia continues to grow and the energy landscape
continues to evolve, it's incredibly important that we keep making
the smart investments needed for our customers to have clean, safe,
reliable and affordable energy for decades to come. The approval of
our latest Integrated Resource Plan helps us do just that," said
Chris Womack, chairman, president
and CEO of Georgia Power. "Working constructively with the Georgia
Public Service Commission, we are committed to building the future
of energy for our state, and these investments in our electric grid
and energy infrastructure will help ensure that every
customer, whether at home or running a business, has the energy
they need to thrive."
Georgia Power files an IRP with the Georgia PSC every three
years to outline how it will provide energy to its 2.7 million
customers over the next 20 years. The approved 2022 IRP delivers a
comprehensive strategy to both transform Georgia's energy sources and help to ensure
that the state's network of transmission lines and grid
infrastructure continues to deliver reliable energy to Georgians –
both today and in the future.
The decision comes following months of an open, constructive
review process resulting in a stipulated agreement in June among
the company, the Georgia PSC's Public Interest Advocacy Staff,
Georgia Association of Manufacturers, Commercial Group and the
Georgia Coalition of Local Governments, including Atlanta; Athens-Clarke
County; Savannah;
DeKalb County; and City of Decatur. Throughout the IRP process,
Georgia Power, the Georgia PSC, and many participating parties
evaluated the company's plan for how it expects to transition its
fleet to more economical, cleaner resources; invest in its
transmission system to make it smarter and even more reliable and
resilient; roughly double its renewable and solar capacity; focus
on energy storage solutions; and offer innovative energy efficiency
programs and renewable subscription programs for customers.
Transforming Georgia's Energy Sources, Growing Renewable
Energy
As coal-fired generation continues to be less economically
viable, the Georgia PSC has approved the retirement and
decertification of all Georgia Power-controlled coal units by 2028,
with the exception of Plant Bowen. Following today's decision, the
Georgia PSC is expected to reevaluate Bowen 1 & 2 as part of
the company's next regularly scheduled IRP in 2025. To facilitate
this strategic fleet transition, the Georgia PSC also approved more
than 2,000 MW of capacity from natural gas power purchase
agreements (PPAs) in the coming years.
Georgia Power has worked with the Georgia PSC and many renewable
energy stakeholders over the years to develop a nationally
recognized portfolio of cost-effective renewable programs,
including solar and other sources. The approved 2022 IRP will allow
the company to build on this success by adding an additional 2,300
MW* of new renewable energy resources over the next three years,
which will support the company's long-term plan to add a total of
6,000 MW of additional renewable resources by 2035. This will
roughly double its currently approved renewable portfolio and
support the company's overall transition to cleaner, more
cost-effective energy resources for customers.
With 17 hydroelectric generation facilities currently in
operation, hydro is an important part of Georgia Power's reliable,
carbon-free generation mix. In the 2022 IRP, the Georgia PSC
approved additional investments in Plants Sinclair, in operation
since the 1950s, and Burton, in operation since the 1920s, to help
ensure they can continue to reliably serve Georgia.
Investments in Reliability,
Resilience
The approval of the 2022 IRP furthers Georgia Power's commitment
to making the state's electric grid smarter and more reliable, with
additional investments and plans to continue to enhance the
reliability and resilience of the grid. The plan includes
investments in new distributed generation and helps to ensure that
the company has sufficient reserve margin, or generation capacity,
available to meet demand during periods of extreme heat or
cold.
As Georgia's energy mix
continues to evolve, battery energy storage systems (BESS) will be
essential to maintaining reliability and to accommodate the
increasing amount of intermittent, renewable generation sources
coming online. Following the 2019 IRP, Georgia Power has made
progress on multiple new BESS facilities currently under
development, including a 65 MW project in Talbot County (Mossy Branch) and a 13 MW
project with the US Army at Fort
Stewart near Savannah.
By approving the 2022 IRP, the Georgia PSC has again recognized
the importance of this technology by approving, with additional
review prior to construction, Georgia Power's largest single BESS
project to date – the McGrau Ford Battery facility located in
Cherokee County. This battery
storage resource will consist of a 265 MW lithium-ion facility
interconnected at the McGrau Ford substation. Once operational, the
facility is expected to add greater resiliency to the electric grid
by allowing Georgia Power to store energy onsite to help power
thousands of homes and businesses when needed. The Georgia PSC also
approved an additional 500 MW of battery storage.
Delivering Diverse, Flexible
Customer Programs
The customer is at the center of Georgia Power's planning
process, and the approved 2022 IRP includes multiple innovative
customer programs designed to promote reliability and resiliency,
such as the Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Customer Program. The
DER Customer Program enables participating customers to receive a
resiliency service via a company-owned, operated and maintained
DER, such as a solar and battery energy storage system.
Participating customers may also elect to receive a credit in
exchange for the company's ability to access the DER for the
benefit of all customers during a system reliability event. The
Georgia PSC today approved this program as a 250 MW pilot, which is
expected to provide system reliability benefits for all customers
while supporting commercial and industrial customers with enhanced
resiliency needs.
In addition, the approved IRP includes, for the first time, an
Income-Qualified Community Solar Pilot, that will allow
income-qualified customers to participate in the company's
Community Solar program at discounted prices.
The approved 2022 IRP also includes a robust Demand Side
Management Plan, which helps customers conserve energy and save on
their energy bills year-round. Important Demand Side Management
programs approved today include the continuation of the Home Energy
Efficiency Assistance Program (HEEAP) and the extension of the
Residential Investment for Saving Energy (RISE) Pilot, which
promotes energy efficiency improvements in qualifying existing,
income-qualified single-family homes and a limited number of
multifamily properties. As part of today's decision, the Georgia
PSC also increased funding for the DSM program and increased
related energy efficiency targets for the company.
To learn more about how Georgia Power is meeting the needs of
customers through a diverse, balanced energy portfolio,
visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/IRP.
* REC Disclaimer: Georgia Power purchases only the null
energy output from some renewable generating facilities that have
contracted to sell that energy to Georgia Power. Ownership of the
associated renewable energy credits (RECs) is specified in each
respective power purchase agreement. The party that owns the RECs
retains the right to use them.
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 2.7 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 consistently recognized
by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer
satisfaction. For more information, visit
www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook
(Facebook.com/Georgia Power), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower)
and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).
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SOURCE Georgia Power