Georgia Opens Largest Battery Storage Facility
Georgia Power's new 530-megawatt site in Cherokee County is designed to strengthen grid reliability for homes and businesses across the area.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Georgia Power opened the 530-megawatt McGrau Ford Battery Facility near Ball Ground in Cherokee County, the largest battery energy storage facility in Georgia. Four other new battery energy storage facilities across the state are also now open, adding 765 megawatts of capacity.
Why it matters
The facility stores energy onsite and releases it to power homes and businesses when needed, which is intended to strengthen grid reliability for the area. Georgia Power's aim is to minimize costs and meet capacity needs, and the project was approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission in April 2024.
The McGrau Ford facility has over 11,000 batteries and 530 megawatts of capacity across two phases on a single transmission infrastructure. It employed about 200 people during construction and provides nine permanent jobs, with roughly $4.7 million per year going to Cherokee County District 1.
The players
Georgia Power
Georgia's largest electric utility, which builds and operates generation and grid infrastructure serving homes and businesses across the state.
Georgia Public Service Commission
The state regulator that reviews and approves utility projects, including the McGrau Ford facility, on behalf of Georgia electricity customers.
The details
The facility stores electricity onsite and releases it when homes and businesses need power, rather than generating it at that moment. It is connected to the local electric grid, the state grid, and the Southeastern regional grid, so the stored power can flow across those systems. Construction began in May 2025, after the Georgia Public Service Commission approved the project in April 2024.
Timeline
April 2024: The Georgia Public Service Commission approved the project.
May 2025: Construction on the facility started.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the facility's opening on the Friday before November 6, 2026.
The Home Front
Utility-scale battery storage is being added to Georgia's grid as a capacity resource, with this facility and four other new sites together adding 765 megawatts. Such projects sit alongside the state's regulatory review by the Georgia Public Service Commission, which approves utility investments that customers ultimately help fund.
If you are a Georgia Power customer, check your bill and any utility notices over the coming months to see how grid investments are reflected in your rates. For questions about your service or the reliability of your own connection, contact Georgia Power directly, and have any electrical work done by a licensed professional.
The takeaway
Large-scale battery storage is now a working part of Georgia's grid, and its benefits to reliability show up over time in the power supply your home depends on. Keep your Georgia Power account contact details current so you receive any service or rate notices about grid changes.
Further reading
For more on how battery storage connects to the broader vehicle and energy landscape, explore Electric Vehicles coverage.
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