Georgia Power will close coal-fired generation, add solar

Georgia Power Public Service Commission approves close coal-fired oil-fired generation solar

The Georgia Public Service Commission approved Georgia Power’s plan to retire 15 coal- and oil-fired power plants, or 20 percent of its coal generation, and add 525 MW of solar power to the state by 2016.

One of the commissioners proposed the solar developments as an amendment to Georgia Power’s proposed 2013 energy plan and expanded on the Advanced Solar Initiative, which calls for 210 MW of new solar power in the state by 2015.

The utility told regulators in June that it planned to close the 15 coal plants and refuel them with natural gas, but that adding solar would increase rates.