Georgia Power has unveiled a bold new chapter for the state’s energy sector, announcing a wave of major investments targeting Bartow and Floyd Counties. Designed to bolster reliability, embrace renewable technology, and meet unprecedented economic growth, the initiative signals one of the largest energy infrastructure undertakings in Georgia’s history.
Unprecedented Growth Drives Energy Expansion
The backdrop to these sweeping changes is Georgia’s extraordinary surge in electricity demand—a trend sharply felt in Bartow and Floyd counties due to an influx of industrial giants, data centers, and advanced manufacturing projects. Georgia Power’s recent load forecasts estimate up to 8.5GW in statewide demand growth by 2030, a dramatic increase requiring new solutions for generation and grid resilience.
The Blueprint: Natural Gas and Battery Storage
Plant Bowen in Bartow County
A centerpiece of the plan is the expansion at Plant Bowen, located in Bartow County. Here, Georgia Power proposes:
-
Two new combined cycle natural gas units with a total generation capacity of 1,482MW—enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes.
-
A state-of-the-art 500MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which will store excess generation and release it during periods of peak demand or grid stress.
This dual approach aims to ensure both immediate reliability from natural gas and the flexibility afforded by large-scale battery storage.
Hammond Site in Floyd County
Floyd County’s energy landscape is also set for transformation:
-
The Hammond site will see a 192.5MW expansion to its battery storage capacity, building on an earlier 57.5MW installation already underway. This battery network will play a vital role in balancing the intermittent flows of renewable energy, helping smooth out supply during cloudy days or after sunset.
Integrated Resource Planning for a Growing Economy
These new projects are woven into Georgia Power’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)—an ambitious roadmap approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission after months of testimony and public engagement. The IRP charts a path that includes:
-
The certification of up to 9,900MW in new energy resources across the state, spanning natural gas plants, battery storage, and solar-plus-storage facilities.
-
Continued operation and strategic upgrading of existing assets like coal, gas, and nuclear plants.
-
Investments in over 1,000 miles of new transmission infrastructure, ensuring that electricity produced at major generating sites efficiently reaches Georgia’s fastest-growing communities.
Georgia Power’s vision is to support economic expansion while keeping energy affordable and reliable. The investments in transmission and generation capacity are in direct response to large-scale development projects, including electric vehicle factories and major battery plants, that have chosen to make Georgia home.
Renewable Integration and Community Impact
The new battery facilities in Bartow and Floyd counties are not just about storage—they are key enablers of renewable energy integration. Batteries allow more solar and wind power to enter the state’s grid by absorbing excess generation during periods of low demand and supplying it when demand spikes, such as during a cold winter morning.
This strategic flexibility also improves resilience. As severe weather events become more frequent, both natural gas generation and battery storage bolster the grid, supporting rapid recovery and minimizing outages.
Georgia Power’s plan includes enhanced programs for customers, with targeted initiatives to help small commercial and residential users incorporate solar plus storage at their own sites—opening the door to more widespread adoption of clean energy technology across the region.
A Future-Focused Commitment
Speaking on the investment, Georgia Power leadership emphasized the company’s long-term focus.
“At Georgia Power, our vision extends far beyond today—we plan for tomorrow, the next ten years, and decades to come,” said Kim Greene, chairman and CEO. “As Georgia continues to grow, these investments will help ensure every community can thrive with safe, reliable, and affordable energy.”
What’s Next for Bartow and Floyd
With construction already underway on some facilities and approval processes advancing rapidly, residents of Bartow and Floyd counties are poised to see benefits in the form of economic development, high-quality jobs, and greater energy reliability.
The expansion at Plant Bowen and the Hammond site promise not only enhanced local infrastructure but also a more dynamic, flexible grid for the entire state. As Georgia Power moves forward with these historic investments, Bartow and Floyd counties are well-positioned at the heart of Georgia’s next energy revolution.
Leave a Reply