Gov. Brian Kemp says his state has taken significant steps toward decreasing its use of coal, natural gas, and oil to generate electricity.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has told world business leaders his state has taken significant steps toward decreasing its use of coal, natural gas, and oil to generate electricity, but more will need to be done to reach the industries’ demand for using alternative power sources, such as solar.
In the last few years, Georgia has been trying to
position itself as a capital for electric vehicle (EV) production by welcoming companies into the state to build EV cars, batteries, and other EV technology. Hyundai Motor Group, LG Energy Solution Ltd. and solar panel maker Qcells are among the most prominent companies to have inked deals in Georgia so far.
During a panel focused on electric vehicles at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Gov. Brian Kemp
said his state had “done as much as anybody in the country” trying to assist companies producing EV tech without using electricity produced by burning coal, oil or natural gas.
He highlighted Georgia’s
two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle as positive signs of moving in the right direction. One of the reactors in the $31 billion project generates power, while the other is expected to reach commercial operation in the coming months. It is America’s first nuclear reactor to come online in more than 30 years. However, Gov. Kemp believes his state is “going to have to have more” if it wants to reach the industry’s goals of using only renewable energy to operate.
“Talking to the companies that we’re recruiting, people that are looking to the state, they obviously want to produce with clean energy,” Gov. Kemp said.
Clean energy, or renewable energy, is generated from sources that naturally regenerate quickly, such as sunlight, wind, water movement, and geothermal heat. It’s considered clean because it doesn’t eject carbon dioxide into the atmosphere like coal burning does.
Skilled Labor Need to Help Grow EV Industry in Georgia
At this stage, though, Gov. Kemp told the panel his primary concern is delivering the skilled labor electric car makers like Hyundai, and Rivian needs to thrive in Georgia. According to Gov. Kemp, the state has landed about 40 supplier projects, with many anticipating the Hyundai Meta Plant coming online in 2025.“We’ve made a lot of promises to these companies, telling them we can supply the workforce,” he said.
“We’re not trying to tell the companies what to do; we’re trying to let them know that we have hardworking people, that we believe in a lot of things they’re doing, providing good paying jobs to our citizens, and we want to support their corporate goals.”
Gov. Kemp said he is confident in his push to recruit electric vehicle makers for his state despite a
slowdown in electric vehicle sales in the United States. According to Gov. Kemp, President Joe Biden’s proposed regulations, including significant incentives for buying American-made electric vehicles, tried “to push the market too quickly,” which might have contributed to the downturn in the market.
According to S&P Global Mobility, 86% of U.S. car buyers were considering an EV in 2021. That number fell to 67% in 2023 despite government tax credits and other incentives to stimulate interest.
“I think the market’s resetting a little bit now,” Gov. Kemp said.
“I do not think that’s going to affect the Georgia suppliers. Everybody’s still very bullish on what’s going on in Georgia, and I am too.”
