Georgia Power breaks ground on natural gas expansion at Plant Bowen despite air pollution concerns
Georgia Power is proceeding with a major natural gas expansion at its Plant Bowen in Bartow County, largely to meet growing electricity demand from data centers. This project, which includes new natural gas turbines and battery storage, has broken ground despite significant environmental concerns and ongoing legal challenges from groups like the Southern Environmental Law Center and Sierra Club. Opponents argue the expansion will worsen air quality in the Atlanta region, which is already struggling with ozone pollution.
Georgia Power has begun a significant natural gas expansion at its Plant Bowen in Bartow County, adding 1,500 megawatts of natural gas-fired capacity and 500 megawatts of battery storage. This expansion is primarily aimed at meeting the increasing electricity demand from data centers and is part of a larger nearly 10,000-megawatt capacity increase approved by the Public Service Commission in December. The project is supported by a $26.5 billion federal loan received by Southern Company.
The expansion faces strong opposition from environmental groups, including the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and Sierra Club. They are challenging an air permit issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), arguing that the project will exacerbate air pollution, particularly ozone levels, in the Atlanta region. The Atlanta area has already seen increased ozone levels, potentially violating air quality standards just four years after being cleared from federal monitoring.
After an initial administrative judge ruled in favor of Georgia Power, SELC and Sierra Club appealed the decision to the Superior Court of Fulton County. Marissa Land, a lawyer with SELC, stated that the EPD has failed its obligation to protect Georgians from bad air quality by not applying the most stringent requirements to Plant Bowen. Adrien Webber, Sierra Club Georgia chapter director, emphasized that the anticipated increase in pollution will worsen health issues like asthma, particularly for vulnerable populations, amidst growing data center construction and recent wildfires.
State and federal officials, including Georgia Power President Kim Greene and U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary James Danly, defended the expansion as crucial for energy reliability and economic growth, highlighting Georgia's rapid development and the increasing demand for electricity.