Georgia regulators approve 10 GW expansion to meet AI data center demand

Georgia Power indicated that information centers volition devour astir 80% of the caller powerfulness supply.

The enlargement includes 3.6 GW of caller combined rhythm earthy state procreation and 3 GW of artillery vigor retention systems. The inferior besides plans to procure 350 MW star including artillery storage, and upward of 2.8 GW of powerfulness acquisition agreements. This represents a 50% summation successful capableness for the state’s largest electrical utility.

The task involves $16.3 cardinal successful concern to conscionable what regulators picture arsenic insatiable demand. Staff members estimation the full outgo to AI information halfway clients could scope $50 cardinal to $60 cardinal implicit respective decades erstwhile including involvement and guaranteed profits. The support enables the inferior to bypass modular solicitation processes to expedite construction.

Critics reason the program places undue hazard connected consumers if the exertion sector’s request falters. Peter Hubbard, a Democrat elected to articulation the committee successful January, compared the woody to gathering a location summation for “a caller roommate, large tech.” He warned that ratepayers could beryllium liable for the costs if the manufacture contracts.

“If successful 10 years, the AI bubble bursts oregon the information centers determination to a cheaper state, past the roommate moves out, but the owe doesn’t spell away,” Hubbard said.To mitigate these risks, the Public Service Commission precocious updated regulations regarding large-load customers. These rules necessitate imaginable information halfway clients to supply greater fiscal commitments and show infrastructure readiness. The inferior has already filed much than 3 GW of caller lawsuit contracts nether the stricter criteria.

Header representation by Abigail Ducote via Unsplash.