From James Magazine, September/October 2025
Every state in America has a chance to participate in the energy economy and to contribute to American Energy Independence. Some states are slow to seize that opportunity, but Georgia is making the most of it by advancing new nuclear power generation and a rapidly growing solar power and energy storage fleet. Partnered with traditional natural gas resources, these new investments are ensuring a steady supply of affordable, reliable, and abundant electricity. The state’s energy leadership is attracting major employers, fueling private investment, creating jobs in communities large and small, and delivering lower-cost energy that benefits families and businesses alike. Most importantly, by producing Georgia electricity from Georgia resources, ratepayers’ energy dollars stay at work in the state’s economy instead of flowing endlessly to build the wealth of energy providers elsewhere.
This state has become an economic leader and beacon of prosperity by combining common sense with innovation and forward thinking. That combination is exactly what we’re seeing today in Georgia’s energy sector. By building a diverse mix of energy resources—including nuclear, natural gas, and low-cost renewables like solar power—Georgia is strengthening its growing economy and creating opportunities in every corner of the state.
“Energy is too important for politics and partisanship. For American Energy Independence, it is essential that we unlock the energy of every American state.”
Too often, energy policy debates in Washington and elsewhere pit one fuel source against another. That’s a short-sighted and costly mistake. Georgia’s success is rooted in an “all-of-the-above” approach, which embraces traditional strengths while welcoming new technologies and investment. The strategy is sound because the more tools available in the energy toolbox, the stronger and more resilient the energy system will be.
For Georgia’s farmers, cattlemen, and other landowners, the growth of utility-scale solar projects has been tremendously beneficial. Hosting solar farms adds another revenue stream that can help keep a family farm in operation for future generations. Solar lease payments provide steady, predictable, generational income, helping families weather volatile commodity prices and unpredictable weather. That means more stability for agricultural communities, more tax revenue for rural counties, and more funding to support schools, roads, and public safety.
Across Georgia, solar projects with long-term power contracts are delivering millions of dollars in direct payments to landowners and generating consistent tax revenue for local governments. For many rural areas that have never had the resources they need to provide a great education to their kids or to improve local public safety or transportation, this is positively transformational.
The affordable, low-emission energy produced by these projects is now one of Georgia’s most powerful tools for attracting new industries. Companies making billion-dollar location decisions know that low-cost and predictable long-term energy contracts are essential to their success. They also know that energy diversity reduces risk and ensures stability. Investments in power-intensive operations like manufacturing, data centers, and advanced logistics hubs go to where energy is reliable, affordable, and clean. Georgia offers that, and a growing energy economy makes the state even more competitive.
Some critics suggest that embracing renewables like solar is a departure from traditional energy policy. In fact, it’s a return to a core conservative principle: competition in the marketplace. Solar power isn’t succeeding because it’s mandated—it’s succeeding because it’s cost-effective, reliable, and attractive to investors. These are private dollars flowing into Georgia, creating jobs, paying taxes, and strengthening the economy without requiring taxpayers to foot the bill.
The American energy economy should not be limited to a handful of energy-producing states. Every state has energy resources—whether that’s coal in Wyoming, hydropower in Washington, natural gas in Texas, wind in Kansas, or solar and nuclear in Georgia. Tapping into those resources allows each state to contribute to American energy dominance. And when every state is producing, America becomes stronger, more independent, and less vulnerable to price shocks in global energy markets. Energy is too important for politics and partisanship. For American Energy Independence, it is essential that we unlock the energy of every American state.
Georgia is proving that a balanced, forward-looking energy strategy can deliver economic wins today while positioning for the future. This approach is attracting investment from companies that want long-term stability and giving landowners new ways to earn income. It’s delivering low-cost, reliable power for Georgia families and businesses. And it’s making certain that Georgia’s economy is positioned to attract and lead in the industries of tomorrow.
While many states are reminiscing about the energy economy of the 1950s, Georgia is positioning itself to lead the energy economy of the 2050s. The state is proving that energy policy can be both pro-growth and pro-innovation, without compromising reliability or affordability. The solar industry is proud to play a role in that success, but the real credit goes to the people of Georgia—landowners, business leaders, and policymakers—who have recognized that energy is a competitive advantage. Together, they are making sure Georgia doesn’t just participate in America’s energy economy—Georgia sets the pace.
Jeffrey Clark is the President of the Advanced Power Alliance, a coalition of power generators advocating for public policy that will position America to lead the energy future. For more information, visit PowerAlliance.org or contact APA’s Georgia Policy Counsel, Brad Carver, at BCarver@HallBoothSmith.com.