Southern’s Georgia Power Takes Next Step in Shutting Coal Plants

(Bloomberg) -- Georgia Power took another step toward shutting down its coal-fired power plants as part of a pledge to be net-zero on emissions by 2050.

The Southern Co. subsidiary submitted its integrated resource plan to regulators, providing details about how it'll replace generation from coal plants by buying power produced by natural gas and “significantly increasing” output from renewable energy sources.

The utility will close 12 coal units that produce 3,500 megawatts by 2028, leaving only two units at its Plant Bowen facility north of Atlanta running until 2035 at the latest, Georgia Power said Monday in a statement. The firm plans to seek 2.4 gigawatts in natural gas power purchase agreements and double renewable generation to 11.5 gigawatts by 2035. It'll also seek approval to own and operate 1 gigawatt of energy storage by 2030.

An integrated resource plan is a document utilities must file with state regulators for approval every few years. Regulators at the Georgia Public Service Commission will likely vote on Georgia Power's plan this summer, the utility said. 

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