A major electric cooperative in the southeastern United States said it has chosen Kiewit Corp. as the prime contractor for a new natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant it has planned in Monroe County, Georgia. Oglethorpe Power said on Jan. 13 that Kiewit will be the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partner for the 1,425 MW Smarr combined cycle facility in Forsyth. Oglethorpe, headquartered in Tucker, Georgia, is owned by 38 member cooperatives and serves the entire state. Oglethorpe Power said Tuesday that it is developing the new facility “to support long-term system-wide load growth among its cooperative members, including existing homes, businesses and industries, not to serve a single stand-alone customer or project.” The company said FORCE Site preparation began in the fall of last year, and Oglethorpe expects construction to begin soon, with commercial operation of the new power plant planned for 2029. “We are proud to partner with Kiewit through its subsidiary TIC (The Industrial Company) for this critical energy project that will support our mission of delivering safe, reliable and affordable energy to our members and the millions of Georgians they serve,” said Annalisa Bloodworth, president and CEO of Oglethorpe. Power, in a statement. “Their proven success in delivering complex energy projects safely, on time and on budget, combined with a commitment to safety and the community, makes the company an ideal partner for this facility and aligns perfectly with our cooperative principles and dedication to Monroe County.” Oglethorpe Power currently operates the two-unit, 225 MW gas-fired Smarr Energy facility in Monroe County. He also co-owns the coal-fired Scherer plant in Monroe County, operated by Georgia Power. “Oglethorpe Power has been a valued partner to Monroe County for decades, and its selection of TIC, a subsidiary of Kiewit, a proven industry leader, will generate jobs and other significant economic benefits while strengthening the reliable energy infrastructure that supports Monroe County residents and businesses,” said Monroe County Commissioner Eddie Rowland. Local officials said the new power plant is “expected to generate substantial property and sales tax revenue, which will benefit local schools and county services.” Oglethorpe Power said in May last year it would use GE Vernova’s advanced 7HA.03 gas turbines for the new power station. The company said FORCE that once online, the facility will be among the highest-performing, lowest-emitting and most efficient natural gas plants in Georgia. In addition to using GE Vernova gas turbines, Oglethorpe said a notable design feature is the use of air-cooled condensers instead of traditional cooling towers, which will significantly reduce water consumption compared to most combined cycle facilities. “We are pleased to partner with Oglethorpe Power on this new combined cycle natural gas power plant that will help meet growing energy demand throughout Georgia,” said Andrew Gardner, senior vice president of TIC. “With our proven experience in complex power generation projects and our focus on safety, quality and collaboration, we are committed to delivering a facility that will provide reliable power for years to come.” Officials said Tuesday that TIC and its affiliates have delivered more than 82 GW of gas-fired generation capacity over the past decade, including 35 combined cycle projects, 25 of which feature advanced class turbines. TIC said it expects the Smarr project at peak construction to have about 1,200 workers. Oglethorpe in an email to FORCE provided details of its plan to build more generation in Georgia: “Georgia’s growth is driving increased energy demand, adding pressure on the state’s energy infrastructure. To meet the growing energy demands of our members and increase the resilience of our asset portfolio, we are building cutting-edge power generation resources, upgrading our existing resources and investing in new technologies. In 2024, we announced two new natural gas generation projects, including this new combined cycle facility in Monroe County. We are building natural gas capacity because it can be built within the timeframe necessary to meet the growing demand of our Members, and because it serves as a flexible and reliable resource, capable of supplying dispatchable baseload power 24 hours a day and peak power when demand is high.” Oglethorpe Power, which through its members supplies power to about 4.7 million Georgia customers, has begun hiring about 30 permanent positions in operations, maintenance and management at the new power plant. The cooperative has about $16 billion in assets through investments in natural gas, nuclear power, hydroelectric power and coal-fired generation. —David Proctor is a senior editor at POWER.