Georgia Power began construction on a new 260 megawatt battery energy storage system in Jefferson County, just outside the City of Wadley, according to a Mar. 31 announcement. The project was approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission and is located next to an existing third-party owned solar facility and near current transmission infrastructure.
The new facility is intended to strengthen the power grid and support growing renewable energy resources in the area. Local officials from the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, Wadley City Council, and community partners attended a groundbreaking event with Georgia Power leaders. The company said this collaboration highlights both the importance of reliable energy infrastructure and expected economic benefits for Jefferson County.
“On behalf of the Jefferson County community, we welcome this Georgia Power project,” said Mitchell McGraw, chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners. “We’re so proud to have your investment in Jefferson County, and we hope for more in the future.”
The battery system is designed to quickly dispatch stored energy over four hours to help meet peak electricity demand periods such as cold winter mornings. Battery storage at this site will capture excess renewable power produced during low-demand times for use when demand increases. These efforts are part of addressing state power needs identified in Georgia’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan.
“At Georgia Power, our collaboration with the Georgia PSC and other stakeholders is key to making necessary investments for a reliable and resilient power grid,” said Kerry Bridges, region executive for Georgia Power. “With the construction of the 260 MW BESS in Jefferson County, we are able to better serve our customers today and support Georgia’s growth. As we expand our energy mix to include more renewable sources, these batteries will play an invaluable role in helping ensure reliability and flexibility, particularly when renewable sources are not available.” The project is being constructed by Burns & McDonnell with completion expected in 2027.
Across Georgia, four additional battery facilities totaling 765 megawatts are nearing completion in Bibb, Cherokee, Floyd, and Lowndes counties following previous approval by regulators. Looking ahead, nine more facilities at seven sites—adding nearly 3 gigawatts—have been approved statewide at locations including Plants Bowen, Hammond, McIntosh, Wansley and Yates as well as stand-alone sites in Hall and McDuffie counties.
Georgia Power also plans two new solar projects paired with battery storage totaling a combined capacity of 350 megawatts at sites selected for high solar potential while minimizing land disturbance.
