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Georgia was about to retire coal plants. Then came the data centers

Summary

Georgia Power had planned to retire most of its coal-fired power plants, citing economic inefficiency, but a surge in electricity demand from data centers has led to a reversal. The company now seeks to extend the life of polluting coal plants to meet an expected 8,200 MW increase in demand by 2030. This trend is seen nationwide, with utilities delaying coal plant closures or adding fossil fuel generation. Environmentalists warn that these decisions undermine climate goals and saddle communities with pollution. Critics also question whether utilities are overestimating future demand, potentially leading to unnecessary reliance on fossil fuels.

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