Georgia Power has increased spending on site studies for potential new nuclear reactors, including a previously examined location in Stewart County near the Alabama border, according to filings with the Georgia Public Service Commission reported this month. The utility said the additional spending covers evaluation of available and emerging nuclear technologies for future generation projects, though a company spokesperson said Georgia Power has no plans to pursue new nuclear construction at this time.
The filings come as Georgia Power continues to operate Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, the largest nuclear power plant in the United States. The facility's four reactors, including the two newest AP1000 units that entered commercial service in 2023 and 2024, produce about 4.6 gigawatts of electricity, enough to supply roughly 2 million homes. Nuclear power supplies more than a third of Georgia Power's utility-scale generation.
Georgia Power has been spending an average of $87,000 a month over roughly 13 months on siting studies for potential nuclear generation, according to a summary included in the company's 2024 annual Retail Surveillance Report. Those costs are not currently included in customer rates and would not be added unless the company moves forward with construction and requests cost recovery from the PSC.
Company leadership has indicated any decision on additional reactors would follow in Georgia Power's next Integrated Resource Plan, due in early 2028, as the utility works to expand grid capacity to meet rising electricity demand from data centers across the state.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- https://www.ajc.com/business/2026/09/georgia-power-studying-new-nuclear-sites-including-near-alabama-border/