The state’s business leaders recently met to examine Georgia’s current energy needs and anticipate future demands.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce sponsored the third annual Future of Energy and Sustainability conference in early May. It brought together leaders from Georgia Power and Oglethorpe Power, Norfolk Southern, Delta Airlines and Kia Georgia.
Savannah Taylor, Research Director of the Georgia Chamber Foundation, said they examined how businesses are working to provide a feasible investment by looking at sustainable energy and increasing natural resources to support expanding economic development.
In addition to traditional energy providers, the event also included discussions on solar energy and green investments, and opportunities.
“Today’s event brought together energy and clean tech leaders from across the state to build solutions and partnerships for Georgia’s long-term prosperity. I am heartened to see so many Georgia Chamber members investing now to ensure we can sustainably build on Georgia’s record-breaking economic success for generations to come,” said Chris Clark, President & CEO of the Georgia Chamber, in a news release.
Cal Wray, President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA), said power availability now and in the future is a major concern for all businesses, particularly large companies.
“How do you get the power you need? How did Georgia Power and Georgia EMC, and Oglethorpe provide transmission? How do they keep up with the power needs?” he said. “You have data centers coming on board as large power users. You have manufacturers coming on as large power users. How does the system keep up with the demand that only continues to grow in Georgia and every other state in the country?”
Austin Stacy, Executive Director of the Development Authority of Burke County (DABC), said that the Georgia Chamber recognizing the need for more energy is beneficial for his office. He said Burke County can be on the leading edge with Plant Vogtle in full operation.
“Leading that charge, not only in the U.S., but across the world, and that we do need more clean energy, such as nuclear. It allows us to leverage that asset and say, ‘Hey, not only do we have this asset, but the whole state, from the business community to legislators to even local governments support this endeavor and that we need to bring more of this to the state, to the region, and our local areas,’” he said.
The Chamber’s event comes at a time when data centers are growing in Georgia and the Southeast. Columbia County recently zoned land for an eight million square foot data and technology park off Morris Callaway Parkway and Innovation Parkway. It is being developed by Trammell Crow Company, a commercial real estate development company. Still pending is Project Eisenhower, a data center planned along Gordon Highway.
Data centers have garnered criticism due to the amount of energy needed to power them. In Pennsylvania, the company that owns Three Mile Island, the site of the 1979 nuclear accident, has an agreement with Microsoft. Unit One, which was not damaged in the accident, but was taken off-line in 2019, is being rehabilitated to supply power to Microsoft data centers.
While Georgia doesn’t have a mothballed nuclear power plant to bring back online, Wray said there are other possibilities.
“We also have micro and modular potential nuclear as well, and there are technologies being tested, but there’s no permitting capabilities for that yet,” he explained. “And it’s not one solution fits all. You’re going to have natural gas, you’re going to have nuclear, you’re going to have coal, you’re going to have solar, you’re going to have wind, you’re going to have hydro, you’re going to have all of these capabilities that need to continue to grow, and new technologies coming on board.”
He added that the federal government must figure out the permitting processes, particularly for the micro and modular nuclear options.
While no data center has been announced yet for Burke County, Stacy said companies have shown an interest, drawn by both Plant Vogtle and the Savannah River Plant. He believes micro and modular nuclear power sources are just a matter of time.
“Right now, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is looking at permitting three SMRs for high-energy users,” Stacy told ABD. “I believe those are going to be out west somewhere. But the conversation has started. The regulation has started to be looked at. Is it in the near future? Probably not, but we need it yesterday.”
Stacy said it is his belief that nuclear is the cleanest, safest form of energy, especially moving forward. He said Burke County can also play a role in that, in partnership with Georgia Power. He pointed out that Plant Vogtle is state-of-the-art and can help teach companies interested in nuclear facilities.
