Georgia Approved Seven New Solar Energy Projects
The state utility commission authorized over 1,000 megawatts of new solar capacity for Georgia Power customers.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Utilities
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The Georgia Public Service Commission has approved seven new solar power purchase agreements, adding 1,137 megawatts of capacity to the state energy grid. These projects are slated for seven different counties across Georgia under the CARES program.
Why it matters
These agreements allow the utility to expand its renewable generation portfolio and provide subscribers with flexible options to support sustainability initiatives. The move helps the state maintain grid reliability while addressing changing market conditions.
The seven newly approved projects add 1,137 megawatts of solar capacity to the state. This follows the approval of 1,068 megawatts of projects in September 2025, with the CARES CIR program authorized to include up to 3,000 additional megawatts.
The players
Georgia Public Service Commission
This state regulatory body oversees the operations of investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities in Georgia.
Georgia Power
This regulated investor-owned utility serves electricity to over 2.7 million customers across the state of Georgia.
The details
The solar projects will be situated in Appling, Decatur, Jefferson, Sumter, Warren, Emanuel, and Irwin counties, with individual project capacities ranging from 78 to 200 megawatts. Georgia Power secures these resources through competitive requests for proposals to fulfill subscription demand under the CARES 2023 and 2025 programs.
Timeline
September 2025: The Commission approved 1,068 megawatts of prior solar projects.
2029: Expected timeframe for the new solar resources to reach commercial operation.
Market Landscape
The expansion follows the trajectory set by the Georgia Power CARES program, which provides a framework for subscribers to purchase renewable energy shares. This decision scales that program further by integrating significant new utility-scale solar generation into the company's energy mix.
Residential and commercial customers participating in the CARES program may see new opportunities to subscribe to a pro-rata share of this additional renewable production. These agreements help manage generation costs by utilizing competitive market processes for long-term energy procurement.
The takeaway
The addition of over 1,000 megawatts of solar power reflects a significant shift toward larger utility-scale renewable integration in Georgia. Subscribers should monitor program enrollment windows as the utility moves toward the 3,000-megawatt capacity goal for the CARES CIR program.
Further reading
Find more updates on the state power grid in our Georgia Utilities section.
More information
Review full program details on the Georgia Power CARES program information portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Grice Connect.
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