Georgia Power has received approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) to move forward with five new utility-scale solar power purchase agreements (PPAs). These facilities, which will total 1,068 megawatts (MW), are set to supply the company’s Clean and Renewable Energy Subscription (CARES) 2023 program. The solar projects will be built and operated by third-party companies that were selected through a competitive bidding process under the CARES 2023 Request for Proposal (RFP), as approved in the 2022 Integrated Resource Plan Final Order.
The CARES program enables eligible commercial and industrial customers to subscribe for a share of renewable energy production, supporting their sustainability objectives. Demand for these subscriptions is increasing as more customers seek to meet environmental goals.
“Renewable RFPs, such as the CARES 2023 RFP, are designed to procure valuable renewable energy that helps to diversify Georgia Power’s generation mix and increase reliability. Our planning models project that these resources will deliver benefits to customers long-term,” said Wilson Mallard, director of renewable development for Georgia Power. “The five projects we selected are economical and we expect they will provide energy and capacity benefits to the system and the most value for all Georgia Power customers.”
The selection process for these PPAs was managed by Georgia Power with oversight from an independent evaluator and PSC staff. The new solar facilities will be distributed across several counties in Georgia:
– Mitchell County: A 25-year PPA providing 260 MW of solar capacity.
– Coffee County: A 30-year PPA providing 200 MW of solar capacity.
– Wilkinson County: A 20-year PPA providing 183 MW of solar capacity paired with a 91.5 MW battery storage system.
– Jefferson County: A 20-year PPA providing 200 MW of solar capacity.
– Laurens County: A 20-year PPA providing 225 MW of solar capacity.
Georgia Power continues efforts to expand its renewable portfolio through additional competitive RFP processes, aiming to maintain flexibility amid changing market conditions while supplying more carbon-free energy.
The company recently issued its CARES 2025 RFP, targeting up to 2,000 MW of utility-scale solar projects—including any remaining unfilled resources from the CARES 2023 RFP—with commercial operation dates expected as early as 2028.
According to Georgia Power’s latest Integrated Resource Plan approved in July, the company plans to add up to 4,000 MW of renewable resources by 2035. An initial target calls for securing at least 1,100 MW through future procurements starting in 2026. If achieved, this would bring Georgia Power’s total renewable resource portfolio close to approximately 11,000 MW by the year 2035.
