Georgia Power Co. says increased demand for electricity is coming fast, asking regulators Friday to let it secure more power generation ahead of schedule.
But environmentalists are questioning a plan that would mostly rely on natural gas to generate new electricity and could keep some coal-fired plants running past previously projected shutdown dates. They say the largest unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co. needs to do more to cut climate-altering carbon dioxide emissions produced from burning coal and gas.
Georgia Power said it wants to build or contract for at least 3,365 more megawatts of generating capacity. That’s three times the capacity of one of its new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Augusta and would be enough to power about 1.4 million homes.
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