Environmental, religious groups take PSC to court to stop Georgia Power data center expansion

Environmental and religious organizations have initiated legal action against the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), challenging its December decision to permit Georgia Power to significantly expand its energy supply. The expansion, totaling 10 new gigawatts of power, is largely anticipated to cater to the growing demand from data centers across the state. The groups contend that the PSC unlawfully approved an estimated $50-60 billion in electricity-generating resources without adequately verifying the necessity of these resources for customers. According to the petitioners, the PSC exceeded its statutory authority by neglecting legal protections against potentially unnecessary and uneconomic investments by a monopoly utility, investments that will be passed on to captive customers. They also assert that 757 megawatts of new energy resources were certified without sufficient evidentiary support, contradicting even Georgia Power's own data regarding its necessity within the relevant timeframe. The vote by the then-all-Republican commission occurred despite pleas from two newly elected Democratic commissioners to postpone the decision until they were sworn in. Matthew Kent, a spokesperson for Georgia Power, defended the PSC's unanimous decision, stating it ensures energy reliability for a growing Georgia and offers savings for typical residential customers. Kent dismissed the lawsuit as meritless, labeling it "a simple attempt to create economic and regulatory chaos" and asserting that no reconsideration is needed. Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, expressed concerns that Georgia Power might be overestimating future demand from data centers while committing billions to non-renewable energy sources. She warned that if the projected data center contracts fail to materialize, Georgia Power customers could face increased costs for infrastructure built on speculative demand. The utility projects that at least 80% of its future demand will come from data centers, with the expansion planned over the next five years.