Electric vehicles, residential, commercial and industrial growth and data centers: Load projections in Georgia are rapidly escalating, and Oglethorpe Power is making big investments in its energy resources—including a historic expansion at Plant Vogtle—to serve its member cooperatives and the millions of people who rely on them.

“Oglethorpe Power and our members are committed to navigating the transition to cleaner energy while ensuring electricity remains reliable and affordable for electric cooperative consumers,” Oglethorpe Power President & CEO Mike Smith says. “The emission-free energy generated by the two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle will play a crucial role in helping us deliver on that mission for generations to come.”

With more than $16 billion in assets, the Tucker, Georgia-based generation cooperative recently celebrated its 50th anniversary of serving its 38 electric co-ops and their 4.5 million consumer-members. In addition to new nuclear, over the past 15 years, Oglethorpe Power has decreased coal generation and increased natural gas, with eight acquisitions representing more than 3,600 megawatts. All told, its nuclear, natural gas, hydro and coal resources give the co-op a generation capacity of more than 9,000 MW.

Oglethorpe Power holds 30% ownership of Plant Vogtle’s four reactors. Startup of Unit 3 last summer and Unit 4 this spring added 2,234 MW to the grid and makes the 4.5-gigawatt facility in Waynesboro the biggest nuclear power station in the United States. The completion of Units 3 and 4 also marked the first ground-up expansion of advanced commercial nuclear energy in the United States in more than 30 years.

“Oglethorpe Power is to be commended for the magnitude of engineering and its fortitude in overcoming many challenges in order to provide safe, reliable, carbon-free energy for electric cooperative consumers for the next 60 to 80 years,” says Dan Walsh, NRECA senior director of power supply and generation.

It’s an important gain for Oglethorpe and the regional grid as the ongoing energy transition and historic load growth show no signs of slowing.

“The electric cooperatives we serve need more energy capacity to meet their increasing demand,” Smith says.

To keep up with this rising demand, Oglethorpe Power recently announced it will invest more than $2 billion to build two new natural gas projects. One, a 1,200-MW two-unit combined cycle gas plant near the existing Smarr Energy Facility, is expected to begin operating in 2029. The other, slated to go online in 2028, will be a 240-MW unit at the co-op’s Talbot Energy Facility that will be able to burn diesel if necessary for resiliency. Pending permitting, Oglethorpe plans to break ground on both in 2027.

“These two new natural gas projects demonstrate growth in Oglethorpe Power’s generation portfolio and our focus on reliable, affordable and sustainable energy for our members,” says Smith.

Earlier this summer, Oglethorpe Power acquired the Walton County Power Plant, a 465-MW, three-unit combustion turbine generation facility. The plant features a low heat rate, which requires less fuel for generating power compared to other technologies.

“As we reflect on the past 50 years and look ahead to the future,” says Smith, “our strategic generation investments, commitment to reliable and affordable electric service and dedication to a cleaner energy future will ensure that we are well-positioned to meet the expanding and evolving needs of the Georgia communities our member EMCs serve.”