Georgia Power, the state's largest utility, has approved a new program allowing companies to propose and fund their own clean energy projects. The Customer-Identified Resource program received bipartisan support from public service commissioners on April 7 and is set to launch this summer. Supporters see it as a way to meet rising energy demands with renewables rather than natural gas.
Georgia's public service commissioners approved the program with bipartisan backing, enabling Georgia Power customers to identify and develop clean energy initiatives directly on the utility's grid. Previously, companies like Meta built solar fields in Georgia for a data center in Social Circle served by an electric membership cooperative, while Hyundai purchased renewable energy credits from Texas solar for its plant near Savannah. Under the new rules, customers can fund projects overlooked in the utility's standard bidding or create their own within the state. Priya Barua, senior director of Utility Partnerships and Innovation at the Corporate Energy Buyers Association, highlighted the program's innovation. “It provides an opportunity for the first time for these customers to be able to identify and bring projects to Georgia Power,” she said. The initiative also permits multiple customers to collaborate, broadening access for small and medium-sized commercial and industrial users. Georgia ranks eighth nationally in solar capacity, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Amid growing demand, particularly from data centers, Georgia Power plans significant new natural gas generation. Barua noted the program could accelerate clean energy additions, potentially reducing reliance on fossil fuels. “It just accelerates the clean energy projects coming to the system, which would then negate the need for natural gas and other types of generation resources down the road,” she said. Advocates hope the model spreads to other utilities balancing energy needs and climate goals.