Georgia PSC approves 10,000-MW Georgia Power expansion amid protests

Moments before the Georgia Public Service Commission voted on a historic expansion of Georgia Power’s capacity, protesters started chanting.

“Nay, nay, nay, the people say nay.”

After being escorted from the proceedings, the PSC unanimously voted to pass the stipulation.

Georgia Power requested to add 10,000 megawatts of new power resources over the next five years mostly reliant on natural gas. The commission staff made a deal with Georgia Power to allow the expansion with a stipulation that typical residential customers would see $8.50 per month in “downward pressure” in 2029-2031.

Originally, the PSC staff recommended only approving an increase of 3,125 megawatts of capacity due to the increase in load not manifesting as quickly as anticipated.

A recent analysis by the nonprofits Greenlink Analytics and Science for Georgia found that only one in 500 simulations agreed with or exceeded Georgia Power’s predictions for expansion capacity. The simulations were run using publicly available data, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Friday’s hearing was filled with advocates asking commissioners to delay the decision while the Georgia Power company argued the decision has been three years in the making. 

Jennifer Whitfield, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center who’s representing Georgia Interfaith Power and Light and Southface Institute, said they filed a motion for supplemental information from Georgia Power, a hearing to ask questions on that information, and a hearing to address whether the intervener should be granted access to specific trade secret information.

“Incorporating into the record the work used to come up with these financial assurances is really important to us. It’s really important for accountability down the road, and it’s really important for transparency today,” she said.

Brandon Marzo, an attorney for Georgia Power, said the PSC staff has been provided sufficient information for the case.

“Where I take exception is SELC is suggesting that somehow we have said that they don’t, that they’re confusing things. Well, we heard this morning that she’s confused about the facts. Commission staff has all of the information,” he said.

Among the public comments, several speakers asked the PSC to delay the vote until newly elected commissioners, Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard, could take their seats in January. 

Amber Simon, a DeKalb County resident and social worker, said they felt compelled to speak at the meeting and noted that two of the commissioners will not have their seats in a few weeks.

“We want you to stop this vote. We want you to vote no or at least defer the vote until someone who we actually elected is here to represent us because I don’t feel represented. A lot of people here do not feel represented, and I find it shameful that you are enacting these things that you may not even live to see the repercussions of,” she said.

Commissioner Tricia Pridemore questioned Simon on her shirt asking if it said “Kill the fascists.” When Simon responded from her seat, Pridemore said, “Would you deliver that from a microphone since I have to ask you the question from a microphone?”

“I am against fascism, so I am wearing a sweater that says, ‘Kill the fascist in you,’” she said.

Pridmore is up for reelection in 2026 as well as newly elected commissioner Peter Hubbard.