Georgia Power starts Plant Bowen gas unit construction

Georgia Power has begun construction at Plant Bowen on two new combined-cycle natural gas units totaling nearly 1,500 MW, while also highlighting a new 500 MW battery energy storage system at the site.

The company marked the start of construction last week during a ceremony at the plant with the Department of Energy, elected officials, and community leaders. The event focused on both Plant Bowen’s long-standing role in Georgia Power’s generation mix and the new energy projects now underway there.

Plant Bowen has provided energy for the state since 1971 and remains a major employer in Northwest Georgia. Georgia Power said the plant currently employs more than 400 people, and the company expects about 1,000 construction workers to be onsite as work continues on the new natural gas and battery energy storage system facilities.

"For more than 50 years, Plant Bowen has been about more than just megawatts – it has been a source of pride and a cornerstone of the Northwest Georgia community, providing high-quality careers and a positive economic force for this entire region", Kim Greene, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power, said at the ceremony. "As we celebrate the new investments we’re making to serve our customers across the state, and the future of this incredible plant alongside our partners from the Department of Energy and many local, state, and federal officials, we remain committed to making growth work for our customers with higher reliability and lower rates. I’m excited for what comes next at Plant Bowen, and for our entire state, as we continue to work together for a better Georgia for the next generation."

Georgia Power said the investment is part of its plan to meet increased electricity demand in the coming years. The company also said it remains focused on keeping energy costs stable and predictable as it builds additional infrastructure.

In February, Southern Company and the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing announced an up to $26.5 billion loan package to support eligible projects across Georgia and Alabama. According to the company, customers are expected to realize an estimated $7.3 billion in electricity savings over the approximately 30-year term of the loans.

The Plant Bowen investment is also expected to more than double the plant’s contribution to property tax revenues in Bartow County. Georgia Power said the Georgia Power Foundation and Plant Bowen employees have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years to local organizations.

Beyond Plant Bowen, Georgia Power said additional natural gas generation projects are planned or underway at Plant Wansley, Plant McIntosh and Plant Yates. The company also said thousands of megawatts of additional battery energy storage systems are under development, along with more than 1,000 miles of new transmission lines planned in the coming years.

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company.

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