Georgia Power has received approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) to move forward with five new utility-scale solar power purchase agreements (PPAs). These facilities, totaling 1,068 megawatts (MW), will be developed and operated by third-party companies selected through a competitive bidding process under the Clean and Renewable Energy Subscription (CARES) 2023 program. The projects were chosen as part of the CARES 2023 Request for Proposal (RFP), which was authorized in the company’s 2022 Integrated Resource Plan.
The CARES program enables eligible commercial and industrial customers to subscribe to a share of renewable energy production, supporting their sustainability objectives. Interest in these subscriptions continues to rise among customers focused on environmental goals.
“Renewable RFPs, such as the CARES 2023 RFP, are designed to procure valuable renewable energy that helps to diversify Georgia Power’s generation mix and increase reliability. Our planning models project that these resources will deliver benefits to customers long-term,” said Wilson Mallard, director of renewable development for Georgia Power. “The five projects we selected are economical and we expect they will provide energy and capacity benefits to the system and the most value for all Georgia Power customers.”
The five PPAs were chosen after an independent evaluation overseen by PSC staff. The new solar sites will be located across Georgia:
– Mitchell County: A 25-year PPA providing 260 MW of solar capacity.
– Coffee County: A 30-year PPA providing 200 MW of solar capacity.
– Wilkinson County: A 20-year PPA providing 183 MW of solar capacity paired with a 91.5 MW battery storage system.
– Jefferson County: A 20-year PPA providing 200 MW of solar capacity.
– Laurens County: A 20-year PPA providing 225 MW of solar capacity.
Georgia Power is also seeking additional renewable resources through ongoing competitive RFP processes. The recently issued CARES 2025 RFP targets up to 2,000 MW of utility-scale solar, including any remaining unfilled resources from the previous round. These projects could begin commercial operation as early as 2028.
In July, Georgia Power’s updated Integrated Resource Plan was approved, setting out plans for up to 4,000 MW of new renewable resources by 2035. An initial target calls for procuring at least 1,100 MW through future competitive solicitations in both utility-scale and distributed generation categories. Additional requests for proposals are expected in 2026 as part of efforts to expand the company’s renewable portfolio toward approximately 11,000 MW by the end of the next decade.
