The agreements are intended to expand Georgia Power’s renewable energy resources. Credit: PBabic/Shutterstock.com.

The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) has authorised Georgia Power to enter into power purchase agreements (PPAs) totalling 1.14GW of new solar generation capacity.

The agreements, awarded through the CARES 2023 and CARES 2025 request for proposals programmes, are intended to expand the company’s renewable energy resources for customers throughout the state.

Georgia Power stated that the procurement under the 2023 programme period marks the largest single solar acquisition in its history.

The newly approved contracts comprise seven solar projects distributed across Appling, Decatur, Emanuel, Irwin, Jefferson, Sumter and Warren counties. These facilities are expected to start commercial operations from 2029 onwards.

The CARES programme was collaboratively developed by Georgia Power and the Georgia PSC, giving eligible subscribers the chance to purchase a share of renewable energy production.

Georgia Power renewable development director Wilson Mallard said: “These new solar resources will deliver affordable and reliable energy at a fixed price for the benefit of all Georgia Power customers for years to come.

“The approval of these agreements by the Georgia PSC helps advance cost-effective renewable energy in our state and adds more than 1,100MW [1.1GW] of renewable energy resources to our diverse generation portfolio.”

In addition to the latest approvals, the PSC previously approved 1.07GW of solar projects for the CARES 2023 programme in a decision made in September 2025.

Those earlier agreements covered projects in Coffee, Jefferson, Laurens, Mitchell and Wilkinson counties.

Georgia Power reports that its renewable energy approach is based on both competitive procurements and customer-driven programmes.

The company recently introduced the CARES Customer Identified Resource (CARES CIR) programme.

This scheme, approved for up to 3GW of potential generating capacity, enables eligible commercial and industrial customers to nominate renewable projects for inclusion in the CARES subscription offerings.

The CARES CIR is structured to allow both large utilities and smaller businesses to subscribe to renewable generation at varying scales.

Last month, the Georgia PSC approved Georgia Power’s agreement to provide electricity for OpenAI’s planned project in Effingham County, Georgia.