Georgia Power Expands Solar Portfolio With 1,137 MW of New PPAs
Georgia Power has received approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) for 1,137 megawatts (MW) of new solar power purchase agreements (PPAs), expanding the utility’s renewable energy portfolio and increasing access to carbon-free electricity for customers across the state.
The approved agreements were secured through the company’s CARES 2023 and CARES 2025 request for proposals (RFP) programs. The procurement associated with the 2023 program period represents the largest single solar procurement in Georgia Power’s history, highlighting the growing role of renewable energy in the company’s strategy to meet rising electricity demand.
The CARES program was developed in collaboration with the Georgia PSC to provide eligible customers with an opportunity to support their sustainability objectives through renewable energy subscriptions. Under the program, subscribers can purchase a pro-rata share of the energy production generated by participating renewable resources.
Demand for renewable energy subscriptions has continued to increase as customers across Georgia seek additional options for addressing sustainability goals and expanding their use of carbon-free electricity. Georgia Power has responded by using competitive RFP processes to identify renewable resources that can add clean generation while maintaining flexibility and cost-effectiveness within its broader generation portfolio.
“These new solar resources will deliver affordable and reliable energy at a fixed price for the benefit of all Georgia Power customers for years to come,” said Wilson Mallard, director of renewable development for Georgia Power. “The approval of these agreements by the Georgia PSC helps advance cost-effective renewable energy in our state and adds more than 1,100 megawatts of renewable energy resources to our diverse generation portfolio. Renewable energy plays an important role in how we are meeting Georgia’s continued growth and expanding access to carbon-free energy for customers through the CARES subscription program.”
Seven Solar Projects Approved
The Georgia PSC approved seven solar PPAs totaling 1,137 MW through the CARES 2025 RFP, which was approved as part of the company’s 2022 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), along with additional procurements associated with CARES 2023.
The projects are located across multiple Georgia counties, supporting a geographically diverse expansion of the company’s solar generation resources. The approved projects are expected to begin commercial operation as early as 2029.
The individual projects include a 78 MW solar project in Appling County, a 130 MW project in Decatur County, a 194 MW project in Jefferson County, a 200 MW project in Sumter County, a 150 MW project in Warren County, a 185 MW project in Emanuel County and a 200 MW project in Irwin County.
Together, these projects represent more than 1.1 gigawatts of additional solar capacity. Their development will increase the amount of renewable generation available through Georgia Power’s customer-focused programs while contributing to the utility’s overall generation mix.
The latest approvals build on a significant procurement completed under the CARES 2023 program. In September 2025, the Georgia PSC approved 1,068 MW of projects through that program. Those procurements included power purchase agreements associated with projects in Coffee, Jefferson, Laurens, Mitchell and Wilkinson counties.
The continued addition of solar resources reflects Georgia Power’s use of competitive procurement to respond to customer demand while managing changes in the energy market. Through RFPs, the company can evaluate potential renewable projects based on factors including cost, reliability and their ability to complement the existing generation portfolio.
Customer Demand Drives Renewable Expansion
Georgia Power’s renewable energy strategy increasingly combines utility-led procurement with customer-driven programs. The CARES subscription framework is designed to give eligible customers an avenue for participating in renewable energy development without requiring them to directly develop or own generation facilities.
The approach also provides Georgia Power with a mechanism for responding to growing interest from commercial and industrial customers seeking additional renewable energy options. As businesses place greater emphasis on sustainability and carbon reduction, access to renewable generation has become an increasingly important consideration in energy procurement.
The company has also expanded the CARES program through the recently launched CARES Customer Identified Resource (CARES CIR) initiative. The new program allows eligible commercial and industrial customers to identify renewable energy projects that could potentially participate in the CARES program, with pricing structured to create value for Georgia Power customers.
CARES CIR has been approved for up to 3,000 MW of additional renewable energy projects, creating another potential pathway for renewable generation development in the state.
The program is divided into two categories based on customer demand and project size.
The CARES CIR Utility-Scale program is available to eligible metered customers with annual energy demand above 3 MW. These customers can subscribe to renewable energy projects larger than 6 MW.
The second option, CARES CIR Distributed Generation, is intended for eligible metered commercial and industrial customers with annual energy demands between 1 MW and 3 MW. These customers can subscribe to locally sourced solar projects in Georgia ranging from 250 kilowatts (kW) to 6 MW.
Supporting Georgia’s Growing Energy Needs
The addition of 1,137 MW through the latest approvals comes as Georgia Power continues to prepare its generation portfolio for sustained growth in electricity demand. Renewable resources are expected to play an important role in meeting that demand while providing customers with greater access to carbon-free electricity.
By combining competitive procurement, customer subscriptions and new customer-identified renewable resources, Georgia Power is expanding the range of renewable energy options available across its service territory.
The approved solar PPAs also demonstrate the scale at which renewable generation is being incorporated into the state’s electricity system. With projects expected to begin commercial operations from 2029, the new capacity will contribute to Georgia Power’s long-term generation planning and provide additional renewable resources for customers.
The company’s approach emphasizes both affordability and reliability while expanding renewable generation. Fixed-price power purchase agreements can provide long-term price certainty, while a diversified generation portfolio allows the utility to balance renewable resources with other forms of electricity generation.
As customer interest in renewable energy continues to grow and Georgia’s electricity needs expand, Georgia Power’s CARES programs are positioned to provide additional opportunities for businesses and other eligible customers to participate in the state’s renewable energy development.
The latest PSC approvals therefore represent another step in Georgia Power’s broader effort to increase solar capacity, support customer sustainability objectives and expand access to carbon-free energy while maintaining a reliable and cost-effective electricity supply.
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