Oglethorpe Power has chosen Kiewit Corporation’s subsidiary, The Industrial Company (TIC), as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) partner for its new combined-cycle natural gas power plant in Monroe County. The project, which aims to support long-term electricity demand across Oglethorpe Power’s 38 Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMCs) in Georgia, is expected to begin construction in Spring 2026 and enter commercial operation in 2029.

The new 1,425-megawatt power plant will power homes, businesses, and industries served by the member cooperatives of Oglethorpe Power, helping to satisfy the overall system-wide growth in demand.

“TIC’s experience in building power projects with safety and schedule performance makes it an attractive partner in this project,” stated Annalisa Bloodworth, President & CEO of Oglethorpe Power.

The project will leverage the presence of Oglethorpe Power in Monroe County, which includes the operation of the Smarr Energy Facility and the joint ownership of the Plant Scherer. The new power plant is also anticipated to generate considerable property and sales taxes for the county.

“Oglethorpe Power’s decision to choose TIC is expected to bring jobs and economic development benefits, as well as improve the county’s power infrastructure,” said Monroe County Commissioner Eddie Rowland.

TIC to Deploy Advanced 7HA.03 Turbines in Georgia Facility

In May 2025, Oglethorpe Power announced it will use GE Vernova’s advanced 7HA.03 gas turbine. TIC and its affiliates are familiar with this technology, having delivered more than 82,000 megawatts of gas-fired power over the past ten years, including 35 combined-cycle power plants.

During peak construction, the project is expected to employ around 1,200 skilled workers, with hiring set to begin in June 2026. Oglethorpe Power is also recruiting approximately 30 permanent employees for operations, maintenance, and administration at the new plant.

Andrew Gardner, Senior Vice President of TIC, said the company will build a facility that delivers reliable power and keeps workers safe while fostering collaboration during construction.

Rising electricity demand across the United States is driving the development of new combined-cycle natural gas plants, which provide efficient and reliable power. Alongside Oglethorpe Power’s 1,425-megawatt facility in Georgia, Entergy Louisiana recently broke ground on new combined-cycle plants in Richland Parish, reflecting a broader effort to expand capacity and meet growing energy needs nationwide.

Monroe County Combined-Cycle Plant: Project Factsheet

Project Overview

Location: Monroe County, Georgia

Owner: Oglethorpe Power Corporation

EPC Contractor: The Industrial Company (TIC), a Kiewit Corporation subsidiary

Capacity: 1,425 MW

Investment: More than $3 billion

Timeline: Construction begins Spring 2026; commercial operation in 2029

Project Purpose

The facility will support long-term electricity demand growth across Oglethorpe Power’s 38 Electric Membership Cooperatives. Serving approximately 4.7 million Georgia customers. The project addresses system-wide load growth for homes, businesses, and industries throughout the cooperative membership.

Key Technology

Turbines: Two GE Vernova 7HA.03 advanced gas turbines (announced May 2025)

Configuration: Two combined-cycle power blocks (1 × 1 × 1 configuration each)

Cooling System: Air-cooled condensers to minimize water consumption

Service Agreement: 20-year long-term service agreement with GE Vernova

Economic Impact

Construction Jobs: 1,200 workers at peak (recruitment begins June 2026)

Permanent Jobs: 30 positions in operations, maintenance, and administration

Tax Revenue: Expected to generate substantial property and sales tax revenues benefiting local schools and county services

Adjacent Facilities:

Smarr Energy Facility (existing Oglethorpe gas plant)

Plant Scherer (co-owned by Oglethorpe)

Project Status

GE Vernova technology selection announced: May 2025

EPC contractor selected: January 13, 2026

Construction start: Spring 2026

Workforce recruitment begins: June 2026

Commercial operation: 2029

Hiring for permanent positions: Currently underway