October 21, 2025
Let's raise our voices against fossil fuels and for clean energy and lower power bills!
Georgia stands on the front line of a massive fossil fuel expansion that many utilities across the country are considering. This isn't to provide reliable electricity for existing customers; it is so that utilities can cash in on the AI explosion and provide electricity to power hungry data centers. In 2024, the Georgia Public Service Commission approved Georgia Power's request for an additional 2.5 GW of gas and coal generation. In July of this year, they voted to allow Georgia Power to delay its promised retirement of coal plants and to add an additional 6 to 8.5 GW of extra electricity generation.
But Georgia Power has come back with a new request for even more. They are now asking to add almost 10 GW of new electricity generation (instead of 6 to 8.5 GW). This is HUGE - an increase of almost 50% of their current generating capacity. And almost all of it is gas or battery storage connected to gas and coal. By Georgia Power’s own admission, its predictions for data centers are entirely speculative and have “significant potential for overestimation of both energy and peak load.”
It's vitally important that Georgia citizens take a stand against this plan now. If approved, it will tie our state to a volatile, polluting, climate-warming energy source for decades to come, and Georgia Power customers will be left paying the bill. Our advocacy now could influence policy in our state and inspire people in other states to fight for clean energy.
On Tuesday, October 21st, we have the opportunity to ask Commissioners to deny Georgia Power's new request and limit the amount of new fossil fuel energy generation. Our public comments can both pressure Commissioners and provide them cover to stand up to this powerful company.
Please try to attend the meeting so you can:
Option 1: Help deliver closing arguments for the public - We are drafting language that incorporates the strongest past comments and arguments. Contact Lisa Coronado at 404-387-5011 if you would like to receive a draft comment that you can edit and make your own.
Option 2: Make your own public comment - Share your personal concerns and/or story.
Option 3: Join the audience - Demonstrate your concern by attending part or all of the meeting. This provides a powerful visual for media coverage.
Below are more details and instructions to make it easy for you to find your way inside the building. Make sure to BRING AN ID to go through security.
Address of the Hearing Building:
The PSC hearing room is located on the first floor of the Paul D. Coverdell Legislative Office Building.
The address for the entrance pictured here is:
244 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA 30312.
For parking and MARTA information see below.
When to Arrive (and Leave):
Public comments will begin at approximately 9:45 am. You must sign up to speak, each public speaker has up to 3 minutes to make their comment, and there is little gap between speakers.
If you are making a public comment, we suggest that you walk through the doors mentioned above by 9:15 am, go through security, and then head straight up to the first floor to sign up. The sign up form will be removed around 9:30 am. If you are on a tight schedule, you might want to arrive earlier so that you can be one of the first on the list to speak. The signup form is usually made available by 8:30 am.
If you are attending to provide audience support, then you can arrive and leave at any time. Just try to enter and exit during gaps between speakers, if possible.
Key Locations Inside the Hearing Building:
First Floor reception area: You must sign up to deliver a public comment. Once you enter through the entrance doors on the ground floor (see picture above), you will go directly through security - bring your ID! . The elevators are on the other side of security, and they will take you up to the PSC reception area on the first floor where they have the sign up sheet.
Hearing Room: The hearing room is also on the first floor. One of the receptionists will buzz you in (the entry to the rest of the first floor is locked). Turn right, and the PSC hearing room is at the end of the hallway. There are bathrooms on the right before you reach the hearing room.
Cafeteria: If you arrive early, you can choose to spend some of the time before the public comment period in the cafeteria which is located on the ground floor near security. There are lots of tables and booths and bathrooms, as well as coffee and food options.
Parking or taking MARTA
If you are driving, we recommend that you park in the Government Center Parking Deck, but that you put directions to Trinity United Methodist Church into google maps. That will take you to the entrance to the parking deck off of Washington Street SW.
You can then exit the deck as you came in, and head to the Georgia Public Service Commission offices as shown on the map. It is about a 5 minute walk from the parking garage to the entrance of the hearing building.
Georgia State Station, on the Blue Green line, is very close to the Georgia Public Service Commission offices. Make sure to exit towards Piedmont Avenue. It is an 8 to 10 minute walk from that MARTA exit to the entrance of the hearing building.
