Georgia Power has a new program that lets businesses work directly with renewable energy developers to add clean power to the state’s electric grid. It’s called the Customer Identified Resource program, or CIR. Georgia’s Public Service Commission approved it on April 8, 2026.
Under CIR, companies don’t go through Georgia Power to buy renewable energy. Instead, they contract directly with renewable developers. Companies then pay a monthly tariff to Georgia Power for renewable energy credits. Any extra credits get shared with other customers, which could lower their utility bills.
The CIR program is an addition to Georgia Power’s existing clean energy program called CARES. It’s also part of the utility’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan. Georgia Power says the program supports its pledge to add up to 4,000 megawatts of renewables by 2035.
The program comes as electricity demand in Georgia has grown sharply, mostly because of data centers. According to reports, in 2022, Georgia Power estimated it would need about 400 megawatts of new power over seven years, and by 2025, that estimate had jumped to roughly 8,500 megawatts. In December 2025, regulators approved nearly 10,000 megawatts of new generation, with reportedly 80% going toward data centers.
Supporters say CIR helps reduce the need for fossil fuel plants. Renewable energy from the program is cheaper than power from gas or coal plants. Georgia Power says it benefits the whole system, not just the companies using it. Letting data centers procure clean energy independently could also reduce utility risk of building power plants that become unneeded if the AI boom slows.
Renewable energy from CIR costs less than gas or coal — and Georgia Power says everyone benefits.
A trade group called CEBA includes major companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Netflix, IBM, and Coca-Cola. Renewable energy advocates worked with Georgia Power to develop the CIR program.
Not everyone is happy, though. Some critics say data centers are worsening climate change and raising bills for regular customers. They argue data centers aren’t paying their full share of infrastructure costs. Legislation that would’ve required data centers to pay more failed to pass. Senate Bill 34, which would have required data centers to pay for substantial costs related to new generation and transmission, was reportedly killed by State Senator Matt Brass on March 5, 2025.
Regulators have added some customer protections. Base rates are reportedly frozen through 2028. Data centers must reportedly file quarterly reports with the PSC and submit contracts 30 days before signing them. These measures come at a time when federal policy is moving in the opposite direction, with the Trump administration rolling back climate review requirements for thousands of oil and gas leases on Western public lands.
References
- https://www.ajc.com/business/2026/04/clean-energy-program-for-businesses-data-center-campuses-gets-green-light/
- https://psc.ga.gov/site/downloads/datacenterfactsheet.pdf
- https://georgiansforaffordableenergy.org/data-centers/
- https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/georgia-data-centers-build-clean-energy
- https://www.selc.org/press-release/psc-unanimously-votes-to-approve-georgia-powers-data-center-plan-without-sufficient-customer-protections/
