Industry News: Oglethorpe Taps Kiewit for 1.4-GW Georgia Gas Plant

“Our team is committed to delivering a high‑quality facility that will support Georgia’s growing energy needs for decades to come.”
— John Jennings, President of TIC and Senior Vice President at Kiewit
Oglethorpe Power has selected Kiewit subsidiary The Industrial Co. as EPC contractor for a new 1.4‑GW combined‑cycle natural‑gas power plant in Monroe County, Ga., to meet rising electricity demand across the cooperative’s 38 members.
The project—referred to by Oglethorpe Power as the Monroe County Combined Cycle Facility and by industry sources as the Smarr combined‑cycle plant—will be built on cooperative‑owned property near Forsyth, adjacent to an existing gas‑fired unit. Oglethorpe Power says the site was chosen for its existing transmission access, water resources and available acreage. Total capital investment is estimated between $2 billion and $3 billion. The Industrial Co. contract value was not disclosed.
“Oglethorpe Power is committed to delivering reliable, affordable energy to the communities we serve, and this project is a critical part of meeting that mission,” the cooperative said in announcing the EPC award.
The plant will use GE Vernova 7HA.03 advanced‑class gas turbines, which Oglethorpe Power says will be able to operate using a blended hydrogen‑natural gas fuel as the technology matures. The facility will also use air‑cooled condensers instead of traditional cooling towers, a choice the cooperative says will significantly reduce onsite water use.
Under the EPC contract, the contractor will lead engineering, procurement and construction. Mobilization is expected to begin in the spring, with commercial operation targeted for 2029. Oglethorpe Power has filed required environmental applications, including air‑quality permits, and says the project will comply with all state and federal regulatory requirements.
“We are proud to partner with Oglethorpe Power on this important project,” said John Jennings, president of TIC and senior vice president at Kiewit. “Our team is committed to delivering a high‑quality facility that will support Georgia’s growing energy needs for decades to come.”
The project also includes a 7.8‑mile, 500‑kV transmission line connecting the plant to the regional grid. Construction on the line is expected to begin in late 2027 and will likely require easements across adjacent properties, according to preliminary planning documents.
Local officials have expressed support for the investment. Monroe County Commissioner Eddie Rowland said the project “will bring good jobs and long‑term economic value to Monroe County while strengthening the energy resources that serve our communities.”
Landmark Starts 825‑Bed Student Housing Project in Columbia, S.C.
Landmark Properties has acquired a 22.35‑acre site at 1401 Shop Road in Columbia, S.C., and begun construction on The Walk on Shop Road, an 825‑bed, 196‑unit townhome‑style student housing project serving the University of South Carolina. The development is the first under the company’s new brand line, The Walk.
Silverpeak Real Estate Partners is a project partner. Landmark Construction is the general contractor, and Niles Bolton Associates is the architect. Completion is targeted ahead of the 2027–28 academic year.
Procore Targets 2026 Completion of Datagrid Acquisition Integration
Procore Technologies is integrating Datagrid into its platform following its January 2026 acquisition of the AI data‑connectivity firm, a move aimed at strengthening Procore’s AI strategy by unifying third‑party data and enhancing reasoning capabilities across its construction tools.
Thiago da Costa, Datagrid’s CEO, will join Procore to lead AI and data strategy as the company advances its integration efforts through the year.
Wake Tech Fire and Rescue Center on Track to Complete Later This Year
Samet Corp. is advancing work on Wake Technical Community College’s new Fire and Rescue Training Center, a roughly $16‑million project slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The project team includes HH Architecture; NV5 for site and civil design; Surface 678 for landscape architecture; Lynch Mykins for structural engineering; and Salas O’Brien for PME and fire protection engineering. Elliot, Leboeuf & McElwain is leading the design of the fire training facility. James Skinner serves as project manager for the owner.
Catamount Rolls Out ArchType for BTR Projects
Catamount Constructors has introduced ArchType, a customizable, pre-priced kit‑of‑plans developed with Dwell Design Studio to speed delivery of build‑to‑rent communities. The contractor says the ready‑to‑build package consolidates design and construction planning, using field‑tested layouts to help control costs and shorten schedules. Catamount leaders note the system is aimed at addressing rising costs and compressed timelines in the BTR market.
M.C. Dean Funds Energy 'Hub' at N.C. State University
NC State University, Raleigh, will create the M.C. Dean Engineering Hub in the College of Engineering, in collaboration with Tysons, Va.-based contractor M.C, Dean, which the two said Feb. 12 is intended to spur innovation in electronic systems, distributed energy, grid modernization and advanced manufacturing. With funding from the company, in an undisclosed amount, the hub is set "to drive cutting-edge research, grow the next-generation workforce and expand what is possible in energy infrastructure and technology," said the school and company.
Company CEO Bill Dean and Marion C. “Casey” Dean, chairman emeritus and former president and CEO. are both electrical engineering alumni of the engineering school, and have been long-time supporters. For more information about the M.C. Dean Engineering Hub, click here.
Southwest Power Pool Plans $150M Expansion in Little Rock
Southwest Power Pool is moving forward with a $150‑million expansion to support corporate growth and broaden its energy‑market services. The Little Rock–based regional transmission organization expects to add about 190 engineering, IT, market administration and support positions by the end of 2027, including roughly 165 jobs in its headquarters city. The project is backed by secured financing and will support development and operation of Markets+, SPP’s planned energy market serving the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West and Desert Southwest.
Hasen to Begin Adaptive Reuse of Former Oncor Building in Fort Worth
Hasen is preparing to start construction on the adaptive reuse of the former Oncor Building in downtown Fort Worth, converting the 16‑story, 300,000‑sq‑ft tower into approximately 330 multifamily units as part of the 115 West 7th Street redevelopment. The project will include studios, one‑bedroom and two‑bedroom apartments along with new atriums, a fitness center and a business center.
The building’s mid‑century facade will be preserved due to its 2024 Historic and Cultural Landmark designation. Originally built in 1952 as the headquarters of Fort Worth National Bank, the tower was designed by Preston M. Geren & Associates in the International Style. Developer 3L Real Estate acquired the property in 2023 and is partnering with Hasen. Bennett Partners is leading architecture and design for the redevelopment.
Bozzuto Construction Enters Texas with Senior Living Project in Dallas
Bozzuto Construction is expanding into Texas as it begins work on The Marianne, a 162‑unit senior living community in Dallas. The 294,000‑sq‑ft project, developed by Harbert South Bay and designed by Arcadis, will include independent living, assisted living and memory care residences. The company has established a Dallas-Fort Worth-based construction team to support its entry into the region and strengthen its national footprint.
Memphis Art Museum Prepares to Open New Campus in December
Set to open its new downtown campus in December 2026, Memphis Art Museum is preparing a curatorial program for its Herzog & de Meuron-designed facility that reflects the history, culture and community of the city.
The museum, founded in 1916, will organize its new building into 18 exhibitions.





