A development group planning an 850-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Washington County announced Thursday that Georgia's Environmental Protection Division has issued final environmental permits for the $2 billion project.
According to Power4Georgians, composed of six electric membership cooperatives, EPD's final approval includes permits for surface and groundwater withdrawal, release of treated wastewater, air permits and a notice of site suitability for the solid waste handling facility.
The plant, to be built near Sandersville, about 70 miles from Augusta, has been targeted by environmental groups as a dangerous new source of mercury and air pollution.
Company officials, however, say the final permits represent reductions from pollutant volumes proposed in draft permits.
"We made significant and positive changes in our application to make our permits among the very best, if not the best, in the country," said Power4Georgians spokesman Dean Alford.
Annual mercury emissions, for example, were initially calculated at about 120 pounds and reduced to 105 pounds in the draft permit.
Depending on the blend of fuel used, the final permit will further limit mercury emissions to between 62.2 and 55.6 pounds.
Other changes from the draft permit to the final permit include: reduction of nitrogen oxides from 1,818 to between 1,091 and 1,345 tons per year; reduction of volatile organic compounds from 109 to 87.2 tons per year; and reduction of hydrogen fluoride from 7.9 to 5.1 tons per year.
Environmental groups that have been fighting the project for several years vowed to scrutinize the new permits for a possible appeal.
"The permits have just been issued today, and they are very complicated, so it will take us some time to review them," said Justine Thompson, the executive director of GreenLaw, formerly the Georgia Center for Law in the Public Interest -- which represents groups opposed to the project.
Although pollution levels have been reduced in some categories, the plant's impact is still substantial, she said. "The reductions, while laudable, perhaps, do not change the bottom line that this will be one of the largest new sources of air pollution in Georgia."
Chip Stewart, whose public relations company represents Power4Georgians, said the next series of steps will involve financing and groundbreaking, but there is no set schedule.
"As soon as Power4Georgians is assured there will be no appeals to the permit, they will begin the final process of obtaining financing for the plant," he said, noting that anyone wishing to file an appeal has 30 days to do so. "So Power4Georgians will wait to see what that process brings us before setting a timeline for groundbreaking."
The Power4Georgians consortium includes Washington EMC, Central Georgia EMC, Upson EMC, Cobb EMC, Snapping Shoals EMC and Pataula EMC.
Some number for the typical 500 megawatt coal plant:3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary human cause of global warming--as much carbon dioxide as cutting down 161 million trees.
10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which causes acid rain that damages forests, lakes, and buildings, and forms small airborne particles that can penetrate deep into lungs.
500 tons of small airborne particles, which can cause chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and premature death, as well as haze obstructing visibility.
10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), as much as would be emitted by half a million late-model cars. NOx leads to formation of ozone (smog) which inflames the lungs, burning through lung tissue making people more susceptible to respiratory illness.
720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), which causes headaches and place additional stress on people with heart disease.
220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which form ozone.
170 pounds of mercury, where just 1/70th of a teaspoon deposited on a 25-acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat.
225 pounds of arsenic, which will cause cancer in one out of 100 people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion
114 pounds of lead, 4 pounds of cadmium, other toxic heavy metals, and trace amounts of uranium. http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/c02c.html
This statement by Justine Thompson, executive director for GreenLaw, is curious:
"The reductions, while laudable, perhaps, do not change the bottom line that this will be one of the largest new sources of air pollution in Georgia."
By definition, the next plant to be permitted and built will always be “one of the largest new sources of air pollution in Georgia.”
Where is a “rolleyes” smilie when you need one?
For all of you opposed to this new plant, do this. Starting today cut your energy use in half. If there are enough of you that are willing to do that, they might not need to build this plant. You could also spend $150,000 to go totally solar. That would power an average house.
The lake and river already have dangerous levels of mercury contamination. I wouldn't allow it on those grounds, alone. We need nuclear power, not coal. When you mess up the common air and water, you are wrong.
What appears dangerous to you, RM, meets federal limits. That is why the air pollution permit has been issued.
LL, this was the state, not the feds. But there is an advisory saying no more than one fish per week from the lake should be eaten due to mercury content. Doesn't the mercury level worry you just a bit? How can we approve a mercury producing coal fired plant right above the lake when the mercury levels already produce warnings?
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