Georgia Carbon Storage Project

Georgia Power quietly conducted exploratory geologic drilling in 2024 at three locations in Brantley County, Wayne County, and Bartow County to evaluate whether underground formations in Georgia could support future carbon capture and storage (CCS). The work focused on collecting rock core samples and subsurface data to assess porosity, permeability, pressure, and sealing formations needed to safely store CO₂. Results showed promising storage potential in southeast Georgia, particularly in Brantley and Wayne counties, where the Tuscaloosa Formation, a deep sandstone layer, demonstrated suitable characteristics for CO₂ injection and long-term containment, along with thick overlying caprock that could help trap the gas. In contrast, the Bartow County (north Georgia) site did not show favorable geology due to poor reservoir quality, effectively ruling it out for CCS use. Georgia Power has emphasized that this effort was strictly early-stage geological assessment, not a commitment to develop injection wells or capture infrastructure, and any future project would require extensive regulatory review, including EPA Class VI permitting, as well as additional technical and community engagement work.