Google backs 96 MW Georgia nuclear expansion

Georgia Power and Google have agreed on a deal to expand the output of two nuclear power stations in Georgia. Under the proposed arrangement, Google will subscribe to electricity generated by planned upgrades at the Vogtle and Hatch plants. Georgia Power projects that the enhancements will add about 96 megawatts of capacity to the state's electric grid.

The agreement requires approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission. Georgia Power stated that Google's participation should create approximately $900 million in projected customer benefits across the operating lives of the reactors. The tariff structure aims to shield non-participating customers from paying additional costs for the upgrades.

Google plans to participate through a new Nuclear Uprate tariff and will receive zero-emission credits for the incremental carbon-free power. Georgia Power has requested regulatory approval for an extended uprate at Hatch Units 1 and 2, while uprates for Vogtle Units 1 and 2 received approval in the utility's 2025 Integrated Resource Plan. Nuclear power supplied over one-quarter of Georgia's generated electricity last year.

Google stated that the arrangement can show how digital infrastructure demand helps finance additional power from existing reactors instead of relying only on new power stations. Georgia Power serves roughly 2.8 million customers and is the largest electric utility unit of Southern Company.