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Clean energy for Georgia, not more coal
One coal plant permit overturned
On June 30, the Fulton County Superior Court halted construction on a new coal-fired power plant in Early County. Its ruling: the state Environmental Protection Division is required to limit carbon dioxide emissions, and therefore couldn’t issue a permit for the plant, which, if built, would increase global warming pollution in Georgia by over 10 million tons annually.
That’s good news. But the ruling only effects the proposed plant in Early, and at the same time, ten Georgia power companies have proposed building a new coal-fired power plant east of Macon. We’re working to stop construction of the proposed plant along with the communities in its path, and we’re pushing state leaders to look beyond coal, to clean alternative sources of energy.
Solutions that work
This summer, Environment Georgia released “Global Warming Solutions that Work,” a report detailing over two dozen case studies that highlight businesses, local governments, states and countries that are taking steps to reduce global warming pollution and, in many cases, reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
“Georgia certainly has the potential to be a clean energy leader,” said Jennette Gayer, Environment Georgia’s policy advocate. “An array of solar power collectors covering a 100 square mile area of the Southeast could supply enough power for the entire country.”
The problem with fossil fuels
Gas prices are at an all time high, and both the cost of a barrel of oil and a ton of coal have doubled in the past year. Also up is the number of red alert smog days in Atlanta, Augusta and Macon, which means asthma attacks are up as well. Our over-reliance on fossil fuels is making itself more and more apparent.
Despite the alternatives at our fingertips, energy companies in Georgia continue to push coal as a viable and responsible form of energy. If approved, together the two plants would increase Georgia’s emission of global warming pollution by over 15 million tons every year, and do nothing to decrease our over-reliance on coal power.
Environment Georgia Advocate Jennette Gayer at an anti-coal rally in Atlanta.
