Southeast Utilities Face Criticism Over Plans for New Gas Plants Amid Rising Power Demand and Climate Concerns.

Utilities across the U.S. Southeast are facing increasing power demand, claiming it will force them to construct new fossil gas-fired power plants in the coming decade. Critics argue these plans are too costly and polluting to meet the growing demand. However, state utility regulators in Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee are urging them to consider these alternatives. Most of the utilities are forecasting high single-digit percentage growth rates every year through the decade, which would represent a significant change for utilities. Critics have accused utilities of using hype around the rapid expansion of energy-intensive artificial intelligence technology to win approval for gas plants that are not really necessary. If approved, these expansion could have a disastrous climate impact.