Communities bordering Mercedes-Benz Stadium are mobilizing against a proposed Georgia Power substation set to be constructed in a historic Atlanta area, primarily home to Black residents who established themselves there following the Great Fire of 1917 that devastated the Sweet Auburn neighborhood.
Residents expressed their discontent over the proposed substation, scheduled to be nestled between Foundry and Magnolia streets along Northside Drive. Georgia Power claims this facility is essential for enhancing the overall power grid’s reliability and efficiency amid growing energy demands in the area.
Informational materials provided to local leaders indicate that the substation will support energy needs about two miles away in the Gulch, linking to the massive Centennial Yards redevelopment project — a $5 billion initiative designed to transform a decades-old vacant railroad yard.
Additionally, Georgia Power cited the increasing energy demands correlated with the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup as justification for the project.
Residents have pointed out that this is not the first utility facility to be established in their community; a similar substation is located less than half a mile away from the proposed site. However, the crucial distinction is that the new facility will be much closer to homes, as it is separated by just a single-lane street from residential areas.
Environmentalist and former Neighborhood Planning Unit chair expressed her concerns, emphasizing a long-standing history of imposing undesirable projects on the community without meaningful consultation. She questioned Georgia Power’s decision-making process, asking, “Why didn’t you come to the community and see what we thought or just work along with us?”
In a statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Power acknowledged community concerns and stated their intention to meet with residents in affected neighborhoods to discuss the project.
“We understand and appreciate neighbors’ concerns and questions,” the utility company communicated. “We’re working to finalize plans and inform the community before we make these necessary investments in the power grid to better serve current and future customers across the area.”
Despite these reassurances, the company intends to break ground on the substation this month, with completion slated for 2028. This extensive timeline includes the installation of new transmission lines that will run beneath the neighborhood streets to integrate with the existing utility infrastructure.
Residents have expressed worries about the roadwork disruption this construction will cause in a community already grappling with challenges.
Atlanta City Council member Michael Julian Bond remarked on the adverse impact the facility would have on the neighborhood. “For a community that is still trying to rebound and come back — that’s had a lot of starts and stops — it’s really not in the best place,” he said, highlighting aesthetic concerns as the substation will act as a visual barrier between the neighborhood and significant landmarks such as Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the World Congress Center.
Council member Byron Amos voiced similar sentiments while standing near his childhood home, which is situated less than a block away from the construction site. He expressed disappointment with the placement of the substation so close to the community.
“The community is special, and we really have a timeline of hills and valleys,” Amos stated, referring to the neighborhood’s history of overcoming obstacles and recent improvements. With a nearby elementary school serving around 550 children, the existence of a new substation raises substantial safety concerns.
Continued frustrations stem from a perceived lack of meaningful community engagement during the planning stages. Amos articulated that, “There has been a complete absence of meaningful community engagement,” especially regarding the proximity of the project to Bethune Elementary School.
This neighborhood suffers from a long-standing legacy of environmental challenges, including reported high levels of lead contamination from historical industrial activities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the area as a priority for cleanup of hazardous materials thorough a national listing in 2022.
In light of these environmental injustices, Amos reached out to Georgia Power, requesting that the company finance a public health risk assessment of the substation location. His letter underscored the disproportionate burden the Vine City and English Avenue neighborhoods have historically borne from hasty decisions made without local input.
However, Georgia Power responded by declining the request for an independent assessment, stating that it had met required environmental impact study criteria through state and federal regulatory bodies.
The company assured stakeholders that it would prioritize public health and safety, with plans for the substation designed to comply with necessary regulations. The facility will also feature enclosures that obscure most of its operations, along with planned landscaping to mitigate visual disruption.
Amos remarked on the company’s rigid stance toward community concerns, saying, “Georgia Power has definitely stuck to the company line: We are going to build it, we need it and that’s it.”
The Vine City substation is not isolated in its controversy, as Georgia Power is also facing backlash in the Howell Station neighborhood due to plans for high-voltage transmission lines running through residential streets to connect a substation to a data center campus.
Residents in these communities cite adverse impacts resulting from utility projects, indicative of a larger trend prompting discussions around the Public Service Commission elections. The commission governs electricity and natural gas rates, and many residents argue that PSC members should be elected by community districts to ensure local representation and advocacy in utility matters.
Rev. James Woodall, former Georgia NAACP president and associate minister at the Lindsay Street Baptist Church, emphasized the need for voter mobilization in addressing these systemic issues during an emergency town hall meeting. He stated, “There are processes in place that really prevent us from having our voice heard. We need to get out the vote.”
Since late 2022, homeowners have seen substantial increases in their monthly utility bills due to a series of approved rate hikes, with average Georgia Power bills rising by approximately $43. Just last month, Georgia Power reached a tentative agreement to maintain base electricity rates for the next three years.
Former State Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas articulated the broader implications of these projects, declaring that they represent not just an affront to Vine City or English Avenue residents but to the entire city of Atlanta.
As local communities continue to challenge the planned substation and other utility developments, municipal leaders and residents remain vigilant, advocating for more transparent dialogues and equitable considerations in shaping the future of their neighborhoods.
image source from：https://www.ajc.com/news/2025/06/westside-neighborhoods-push-back-against-georgia-power-substation/
