Georgia Power Co. is betting its future on generating electricity from nuclear power and natural gas.

An Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) filed Friday by the Atlanta-based utility includes plans to build two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Augusta by 2017 and add three natural gas-fired units at Plant McDonough in Henry County by 2012.

The nuclear expansion will add 1,007 megawatts of generating capacity to Georgia Power’s energy portfolio, while the new natural gas units will bring more than 2,000 megawatts into service.

The projects form the cornerstone of plans to meet an anticipated growth in demand for electricity during the next 20 years.

The reliance on nuclear energy and natural gas comes as no surprise. The planned expansion at Plant Vogtle has been the subject of debates in the Georgia Public Service Commission and the General Assembly during the past year.

Both the PSC and legislature approved a controversial proposal to allow the utility to begin recovering the project’s construction costs several years before the two nuclear units are due to go into service.

Georgia Power officials have spoken often of the need to de-emphasize the role of coal as a source of electricity because of cost volatility and uncertainty over climate change legislation.

The IRP also continues Georgia Power’s commitment to expanding its “demand-side” programs aimed at conserving energy and its efforts to develop renewable energy, particularly solar power.

However, the utility previously had announced its intention to delay the planned conversion of Plant Mitchell in Southwest Georgia to biomass until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues new rules on industrial boiler emissions.

The PSC has six months to review the IRP and approve it, with or without modifications.

Buck