Georgia Power Plans To Close A Coal Plant, Add Renewables

Georgia Power is continuing work on the two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle, which is near Augusta.

David Goldman / Associated Press

Georgia Power plans to add more renewable energy to its portfolio and to close a coal plant. On Wednesday, the utility released its 20-year integrated resource plan, where it forecasts future electricity demand, and explains how it intends to supply power to millions of Georgians.

The utility says it wants to close coal-fired Plant Hammond, which is near Rome. It also wants to close one coal unit at Plant McIntosh, near the coast, though that would not mean closing that entire plant.

Georgia Power proposes removing two dams on the Chattahoochee River near Columbus, and a third dam on a creek in the northeast corner of the state. Even combined, the three dams don’t generate much power, according to the utility, and they aren’t in use right now anyway.