Georgia & Coal
Georgia claims #1 and #2 on national list of greenhouse gas emitters
January 11, 2012
Plant Scherer in Juliette holds the top spot in the nation for greenhouse gas emissions according to a list jsut released by the EPA. The second spot is claimed by Plant Bowen, about 50 miles northwest of Atlanta. Both plants, and the Plant Miller in Alabama, ranked number three in the country, are owned by the Southern Company.
The rankings were released less than a month after the EPA signed new regulations on mercury and other toxic emissions from coal plants.
These emissions are linked to birth defects, reduced cognitive ability in children, asthma, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Read the Atlanta Journal Constitution's coverage.
Tell the Southern Company to stop leading the country in air pollution by signing this petition today.
Georgia ranked in Top 10 states for air pollution from coal
July 20, 2011
According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, Georgia ranks 9th in the country for coal plant air pollution. Our neighbors North Carolina, South, Carolina, and Alabama are just just below us in toxins from coal emissions.
The research was released in the final days of commenting on the Clean Air Act, which is poised to decrease the allowable emissions from coal plants. Read more here.
Georgia and Coal Ash Disposal in Ponds and Landfills
Amount of coal ash generated per year: Over 3.1 million tons. Georgia ranks 13th in the country for coal ash generation.
The U.S. EPA has not yet gathered information on coal ash disposal in landfills, so a detailed breakdown is not yet available. However, according to a 2007 EPA risk assessment, 11 surface impoundments and landfills in Georgia are unlined. Of these sites, 10 do not have a leachate collection system and nine do not have any groundwater monitoring.
More information on Georgia coal ash ponds
MAP
Mercury Impaired Water in Georgia
Click on the map to see a larger view
Coal and Your Health
The economics of pollution
October 25, 2011
The Daily Grist has an analysis of an article in American Economic Review which clearly states that the damages resulting from burning coal clearly outweigh, and therefore are more expensive, then the benefits. The Daily Grist states that for every $1.00 spent on coal, another $2.00 are spent on the ensuing damage done.
Wondering how coal impacts the health of your community?
According to the Clean Air Task Force coal plant emissions were responsible for 22 ashtma attacks and 1 death last year in Washington County.
This interactive site will help you learn what type of impact coal has on your community, how much mercury is in the fish you are eating, and what you can do to reduce the damage done by coal emissions and mercury.
Find out if your community has dangerous levels of coal pollution
This interactive map will show you where coal plant pollution, which includes toxic mercury, is the worst. See how safe the air is in your community here.