Is Georgia Power’s New Plan Enough to Reach Net Zero by 2050?

RMI analysis indicates that while Georgia Power's plan significantly reduces coal reliance, it remains heavily dependent on gas and fails to align with a 1.5°C pathway. The utility's demand forecasts appear to underestimate the electricity needs required for the electrification of transportation and industry in Georgia.

• Georgia Power's proposed 20-year energy plan includes closing most coal plants by 2028 and the remainder by 2035, doubling renewable generation, and purchasing existing gas-fired capacity without building new gas plants.
• Despite achieving its 2030 target of a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, RMI analysis suggests these reductions will likely plateau by 2035, leaving the company's 2030 projected emissions above levels consistent with a 1.5°C-aligned pathway.
• Georgia Power's demand forecasts may be too low to support full decarbonization; the utility projects a 17 percent increase in electricity sales by 2041, which RMI suggests does not account for the rapid electrification of industrial facilities and vehicles.
• RMI recommends that Georgia Power utilize ratepayer-based securitization to recover the value of retired coal plants and support federal policies like the Build Back Better Act, which could save customers over $272 million by 2030 and reduce emissions by 60 percent.

APA

RMI (2022). Is Georgia Power’s New Plan Enough to Reach Net Zero by 2050? https://rmi.org/resources/is-georgia-powers-new-plan-enough-to-reach-net-zero-by-2050/

Chicago

RMI. Is Georgia Power’s New Plan Enough to Reach Net Zero by 2050? 2022. https://rmi.org/resources/is-georgia-powers-new-plan-enough-to-reach-net-zero-by-2050/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Is Georgia Power’s New Plan Enough to Reach Net Zero by 2050? |date=14 March 2022 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/is-georgia-powers-new-plan-enough-to-reach-net-zero-by-2050/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2022georgia, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Is Georgia Power’s New Plan Enough to Reach Net Zero by 2050?}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2022}, month = mar, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/is-georgia-powers-new-plan-enough-to-reach-net-zero-by-2050/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }