WELCOME

Snapping Shoals Owner Member to Board of Directors: You should be better stewards of our money
February 3, 2012

Another Snapping Shoals EMC (SSEMC) owner member has asked the Board
of Directors to withdraw from Plant Washington. She says, "I am outraged that the board has arrogantly decided to continue its support through the use of our money."

This letter is the second one opposing Plant Washington to appear in the Rockdale Citizen this week. Read the entire letter here.

Incumbent Cobb EMC Board Member: give Power4Georgians a little more money to wind the plant down
February 1, 2012

The Marietta Daily Journal's Around Town column returns to the co-op's decision last week to drop support of Plant Washington. Only two members supported continued involvement but co-op executives would not release those names.

The MDJ is reporting that one vote in favor of continuing in a project belong to Johnny Gresham. Grersham is described in the column as Dean Alford's "Georgia Tech alum chum."

The second vote is attributed to David McGinnis. The MDJ reports that McGinnis wants to "give P4G 'a little' more money so the consortium could wind down, not necessarily to continue it to fruition."

McGinnis served on both the Cobb EMC and Cobb Energy Boards, which is considered to be a clear conflict of interest. His home was one that was searched by the GBI for evidence which resulted in Dwight Brown's indictments.

Cobb EMC coverage is the last topic in the column.

Snapping Shoals EMC member: stop any further funding of Plant Washington
February 1, 2012

Snapping Shoals EMC, located just outside Atlanta, is the largest of the remaining four EMCs funding the development of Plant Washington. Snapping Shoals owner member J.L. Howard includes this in a letter to the editor of the Rockdale Citizen, "As a Snapping Shoals EMC member this makes me (and my bank account), very nervous. In the past Cobb EMC was by far the largest investor in Plant Washington. Now that they have pulled out how much will be passed along to Snapping Shoals members? Who will continue to pay the lawyer fees etc. of the company that is fighting for permits?"

Read more here.

Tell WEMC Not One More Dollar on Plant Washington!
January 30, 2012

EMC owner members in Snapping Shoals EMC, Cnetral Georgia EMC, Upson EMC, and Washington EMC, are telling their Board of Directors to get out of the boondoggle Plant Washington (and Plant Ben Hill) projects.

The more we learn, the worse the project is for owner members and Washington County taxpayers. Sign the petition today and share the link with friends.

WEMC Board Member supports forensic audit to build confidence
January 27, 2012

Yesterday following the Washington EMC (WEMC) monthly board meeting, Billy Helton talked with FACE Executive Director and co-op owner member Katherine Cummings. Helton is her District Rep and his district includes the Plant Washington site.

Helton was clearly sincere when he said he wants to make the most of every co-op dollar spent, including the Plant Washington project. One option he raised was the possibility of finally getting the permit and then selling it to another company. Cummings cautioned that with the surplus of inexpensive power flooding the market, the lack of a pro forma estimate and any power purchase agreements for Plant Washington, increased emission regulations, and higher construction costs since the $2.1B project was announced four years ago, selling the permit may not be a way to return some of the $1M (plus any more money spent in 2012) to the co-op.

A review of the reduced customer base among the four remaining co-ops, and the announced cost of the project, along with the money already spent, puts the cost at these levels:

Cost to each WEMC member with $1M spent to date: $67.00

Cost to each EMC customer with the original customer base now reduced by 77 percent: $12,575 per customer (double that amount if they pursue Plant Ben Hill)

Helton supports forensic audit

Helton agrees that a forensic audit would be a good way to help rebuild confidence among WEMC members. Cummings urged a committee with owner members making up the majority be appointed to hire a company to conduct the audit, and report back to the Board of Directors and WEMC owner members. Helton said he thought all of those points were reasonable.

FACE urges WEMC owner members to contact the Board Chair Mike McCoy, CEO Frank Askew, CFO Wendy Sellers, and their Board Representative and ask them to withdraw WEMC from P4G. They have not ever provided us with substantive support for Plant Washington and recent announcements create yet more serious concerns about the use of owner member dollars.

Find out more about how concerned WEMC owner members are partnering with FACE to organize Take Back Washington EMC via the new Face book page.


WEMC Board learns about pro forma estimates after announcement that Plant Washington never had one
January 26. 2012

Thursday morning during the monthly Washington EMC board meeting, Cobb EMC member Mark Hackett made a presentation on the benefits of pro forma estimates for making power supply and purchasing decisions. Read the presentation and more about the board's refusal to reveal 2012 budgeting for Plant Washington here.

COBB EMC PULLS OUT OF PLANT WASHINGTON!
January 24, 2012

The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that Cobb EMC voted to withdraw from Plant Washington this afternoon, just one week shy of the day four years ago when it was announced in Sandersville.

The financial soundness of Plant Washington has been questioned and challenged since it was announced. Cobb EMC members were quick to praise their Board's decision. "I'm happy to see that my EMC has woken up, smelled the coffee, and cancelled funding for this terrible project. Dirty coal plants are no longer a good option. Now, the other three EMCs should follow Cobb’s lead and immediately cease funding Power4Georgians,” said Don Dressel, Cobb EMC member and Sierra Club leader.

The no-bid contract for Plant Washington was awarded to Allied Energy Services, which Cobb EMC was forced to sell as part of a court settlement with co-op owners. Dean Alford, who bought the company for a fraction of the $4.3M it had lost, made a presentation to the Cobb EMC Board today which, based on the Board's action, did not convince them that the project was worth pursuing any longer.

The Washington EMC Board of Directors and CEO Frank Askew told three members of FACE in May of last year that they had no business plan or study they could share with members to demonstrate the soundness of this project and the co-op's involvement in it. Less than two weeks ago co-op members were stunned when Cobb V-P Sam Kelly announced that there is no pro forma cost and revenue estimate for the project. In fact, Cobb EMC also said its interest in the project was cooling.

FACE's Executive Director Katherine Cummings said that the work taken up by local citizens four years ago began because they wanted to make sure their children had clean air and water. The problems surrounding governance and transparency have helped bring plant opponents and co-op reform members together to work for a better Washington EMC.

FACE urges Washington EMC members to contact their Board representative immediately and ask them to cancel any further involvement and investment of owner member dollars in this boondoggle.

Mike McDonald, District 1.......................................706–465–9414
Jeff Larksen, District 2...........................................706–444–7556
Joe Taylor, District 3.............................................478–452–7817
Billy Helton, District 4 (Plant Washington site)......478-348-3078
Mildred Jackson, District 5....................................478–552–9438
Chair Mike McCoy, District 6.................................478–552–0895
Ken Vickers, District 7..........................................478–864–2459
Washington EMC office........................................478.552.2577

Email:

Frank Askew, CEO f.askew@washingtonemc.com

Chair Mike McCoy, mmccoy@washemc.net

Wendy Sellers, CFO w.sellers@washingtonemc.com


Cobb EMC Board candidate calls for cancellation of Plant Washington
January 23,2012

Former nuclear energy industry professional John Berry, who is running for District 5 in the Cobb EMC elections at the end of March, has an op/ed in the Marietta Daily Journal calling for the cancellation of Plant Washington.

Mr. Berry's letter includes, "Let's for a moment just ask ourselves whether it makes any sense at all for us, as an electricity provider with no experience or expertise in operating a generating facility, to build Plant Washington. I think not.

If our goal is to ensure an adequate supply of affordable energy for the future then building Plant Washington is the last thing we want to undertake. Once you are the owner and operator of a generating station it is you who are obligated for all the costs associated with that plant."

Berry is yet another Cobb EMC member who is arguing that the plant is a poor business decision in and of itself without the numerous legal and ethical complaints raised about the project and Power4Georgians. Read more here. 

New Cobb EMC Board Members update the community
January 19, 2012

The four new members of the Cobb EMC Board have written a letter to the editor of the Marietta Daily Journal to keep them current on operations. They also include Plant Washington in their review of previous decisions. Read more here.

“Because we said so” isn’t a business plan
January 17, 2012

Letter to the Editors of The Sandersville Progress, Johnson County Journal, Sparta Ishmalite, Jefferson County News and Farmer

Just short of four years after Plant Washington was touted by Dean Alford, Washington County elected officials and Washington EMC leaders as a “done deal,” A Cobb EMC Vice-President announced that there is no pro forma estimate for Plant Washington. And the need for power? The Marietta Daily Journal has reported that Cobb EMC just received 17 responses requesting bids from power suppliers, which serves as evidence that there are ample options already available without pursuing this boondoggle any further.

Washington EMC members now know that $1M of our member dollars have been spent on a project that was based on the EMC Board and local leaders saying, “Because we say it is good.”

EMC members and local citizens need to ask our EMC Board and local leaders why they spent local dollars and committed this community to a project which they knew had no pro forma estimate on the financials of this project. They need to demonstrate to us now how they carried out their due diligence. Telling us they did isn’t acceptable or sufficient.

Local leaders can do longer say that Plant Washington was what we were told it was supposed to be. We had hoped they would choose a graceful exit and abandon this project like four other EMCs did almost three years ago. Last summer when Dwight Brown was re-indicted on 35 counts (and those indictments were upheld in court recently), FACE asked the EMC, the Chamber of Commerce, County Commissioners, the Industrial Development Authority, and all local business and civic leader, to call the engagement off. It was clear that this project was not in our best interest. They stood fast on their insistence to go forward.

It is time for them to come clean. Stalling won’t make it any easier or prettier. Ask your EMC Board Member and local officials to tell us the truth, and to abandon Plant Washington now. 

Katherine Cummings
FACE Executive Director

Cobb EMC members have spent over $1.6M on Brown's defense
January 17, 2012

On the heels of Cobb EMC's announcement last week that there is no pro forma cost estimate for Plant Washington, and the co-op's interest in the project has decreased, members now know that they have spent over $1.6M on defending Dwight Brown. What wasn't made clear in Cobb EMC V-P Sam Kelly's statement is when the meter started running. Several members have said that they think m,ore money was spent with King and Spalding for other issues with the Cobb County District Attorney's office. The Marietta Daily Journal's coverage is the third item in today's Around Town column.

Cobb EMC Board shouldn't "throw good money after bad"
January 13, 2012

Don McKee in the Marietta Daily Journal urges the Cobb Board to slow down on new energy supply bids and additional funding of Plant Washington. McKee wrote that the Board would be wise to follow Cobb EMC member Mark Hackett's advice and re-evaluate the need for the plant, especially now that members know there was no pro forma cost estimate. According to McKee, Hackett thinks "Cobb EMC went merrily along with this project without doing a pro forma cost estimate, a mind-boggling misstep."  

Savannah Riverkeeper requests federal oversight on kaolin spill
January 13, 2012

The Savannah Riverkeeper has filed a federally required notice of intent concerning the 679 tons of kaolin slurry spilled into Reedy Creek earlier this month. The Riverkeeper believes that the 20 miles of wetlands habitat which have been polluted constitute a violation of the U.S. Clean Water Act. The citizen enforcement action. Read the Augusta Chronicle coverage here.

Marietta Daily Journal: "Cobb EMC’s interest in building the coal-fired Plant Washington appears to be dead"
January 12, 2012

Just short of four years after announcing Plant Washington as a "done deal' to Washington County residents, Sam Kelly, a Cobb EMC Vice-President, is quoted in an MDJ article finally admitting that there is no pro forma cost estimate for Plant Washington. FACE and other EMC members have asked for four years about the business plan supporting the plant, and Washington EMC leaders have failed to provide it.

Dean Alford, who now owns Allied Energy Services after Cobb EMC was forced in a court settlement to sell it, secured the plant contract in a no bid process. He is scheduled to make a presentation to the Cobb EMC Board on the 24th of this month in an effort to save the project. Cobb EMC has already spent $13.5M on the project, and Washington EMC has spent close to $1M of member dollars. FACE submitted an appeal for the air permit last month.

Just before Christmas Cobb EMC released a Request For Proposals (RFP) from energy providers, further raising questions about the role that the plant plays in energy supplies. Cobb has not issued an RFP since 1996.

Mark Hackett, a Cobb EMC member who previously led generation planning at Oglethorpe Power, said that the RFP requirements leave EMC members in the dark about future power needs. Hackett said, “We’re the regulators, and the only regulators. If they’re not sharing it with the members, they’re (the Cobb EMC Board) not being regulated at all.”  Read the full article here.

Plant Washington – A Waste of Cobb EMC Money
January 10, 2012

Letter to the Editor The Sandersville Progress, Johnson County Journal, Sparta Ishmalite, Jefferson County News and Farmer

As a concerned customer of Cobb EMC with a 25 year career in the electric utility industry, I have been closely studying its planned development of an 850 megawatt (that’s million watt) coal plant in Washington County. After doing some homework, I believe that this proposed power plant is a big mistake that will not help our EMC provide low cost, reliable power to its membership. The plan to pursue development of Plant Washington seems even more flawed after the December 12, 2011 news that LS Power Company has cancelled plans to build the Longleaf Energy Station, a 1,200 megawatt coal plant under development near Blakely, Georgia.

My greatest concern is that the decision to move forward with Plant Washington appears to have been made without performing the type of economic analysis that is standard in the industry. One can see on Cobb EMC’s website that electricity demand, because of our slow economy, has dropped in recent years, not grown. This drop in demand has occurred throughout the Southeast, and as a result it would seem that other utilities looking to sell unused capacity could inexpensively serve any projected demand growth at a much lower cost than new construction. By canceling their Longleaf coal plant plans after ten years in development, LS Power, one of the largest power plant developer/operators in the United States, presumably drew the same conclusions. In fact, LS Power Vice President Mike Vogt said that the Longleaf Plant was canceled in part because of a bad economy and lack of electricity buyers.

In the mid 1990’s, I served as the head of Generation Planning and Power Trading at Oglethorpe Power, the largest supplier of power to 39 of Georgia’s 42 EMCs.  Following my tenure at Oglethorpe, I was one of three owners of New Energy Associates which was the leading provider of consulting and software services for power supply planning to major utilities throughout the United States.

In my experience as a professional power supply planner, since the mid 1990’s, coal based generation has never come out on top as an economic power supply choice in the Southeast. The price of Plant Washington is currently estimated by Power4Georgians, which has no experience in coal plant construction, to be $2.1 billion.  A recent study sponsored by the consumer advocacy group, Georgia Watch, states that Plant Washington would likely cost much more, with an upper end estimate in excess of $4 billion. The study goes on to predict that the plant would result in rate increases to us, the member customers, of 10- 20% just in the first year of operation. Power4Georgians chose to pursue its most recent air permit without including (as required by law) the proposed EPA regulations for mercury and other toxins, and must now spend more member dollars to meet those tougher standards.

Even if new construction is warranted, natural gas fired facilities are less costly to construct, have less risk of cost increases from environmental legislation, and could lock in today’s very low natural gas prices with long term contracts. There is also the potential to economically address a large part of Georgia’s future growth in power supply with energy conservation and renewable resources. Dr. Marilyn A. Brown, professor of Energy Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Public Policy and member of the Board of Directors of Tennessee Valley Authority has co-authored the article “Myths and Facts About Electricity in the U.S. South” in the Energy Policy Journal (2011).  In this article the authors conclude that “... energy efficiency and renewable energy could meet incremental growth in electricity demand and eliminate the need to expand fossil-fueled electricity generation.”

All of the evidence that I have reviewed indicates that continuing to build Plant Washington is a bad idea. I encourage the Cobb EMC Board to stop throwing good money after bad before hundreds of millions of dollars are wasted. The members of Cobb EMC have already stated emphatically that they want a new evaluation of Plant Washington by electing four new directors at their November 12th election. Now is the time for each EMC involved in Plant Washington to stall further investment, re-evaluate their power supply needs and reconsider their participation in this project.

Mark A. Hackett
Cobb EMC member

Dwight Brown fails to get 35 indictments dismissed
January 5, 2011

The Cherokee Tribune reports that Dwight Brown failed in his efforts to have the 35 indictments filed against him dismissed. Judge Flourney has upheld the original 31 indictments (racketeering, theft, and making false statements) in addition to four indictments for intimidating witnesses which were added when he was re-indicted last summer. Former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes has worked as one of Brown's lawyers, at a reported rate of $750 an hour. Read more here.



Reedy Creek turns milky white from kaolin slurry spill
January 3, 2012

January 1st residents began calling the EPD about a milky color in Reedy Creek on Hwy 17 near Wrens in Jefferson County. The Savannah Riverkeeper's science advisor Frank Carl thinks that several tons of kaolin slurry leaked into the creek from a broken pipe. Unlike the October spill in Brier Creek, when the EPD failed to notify municpal utilities about protential impacts on water supplies, Waynesboro City Water officials were contacted immediately. Read more in the Augusta Chronicle's coverage here.

Governor Deal refuses to re-appoint conservation conservative
December 28, 2011
Gov. Deal announced that he would not re-appoint Warren Budd, the Vice-chair of the DNR, who was expected to chair the board in 2012.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Budd thinks a “green conservative” point of view is no longer welcome by Gov. Nathan Deal, who wants no dissent from a pro-development agenda that favors special interests. Budd said that as a board member he wanted the DNR to act more aggressively on the Ogeechee fish kill in May. He also pointed to the protection of company which caused the fish kill instead of supporting the smaller businesses and residents impacted by the chemical dumping. The AJC coverage is here.

Cobb EMC member makes strong argument against Plant Washington
December 15, 2011
Following the cancellation of Longleaf, people across Georgia focused their attention on Plant Washington. Cobb EMC member Mark Hackett, a utility industry professional, raised these points in the Marietta Daily Journal, “When a company the size of LS Power cancels a plant in Georgia for economics, you have to ask, why does P4G think their plant will be economically viable?” asked “LS Power is big in coal. They do a lot of coal construction. P4G hasn’t built any coal plant, anywhere, ever. Doesn’t that beg for a harder look at Plant Washington?” Read more here.

Cobb EMC takes steps toward transparency and open governance
December 16, 2011
The co-op announced that financials and Board minutes will be posted on the web as a step toward better governance. Also, the longest serving member of the Board, Sarah Brown, announced that she will not run for her seat again. Read more here.

Georgia Public Interest Groups Hail New EPA Mercury Rule!
December 21,2011

Contact: Jennette Gayer, Environment Georgia, office 404.892.3573
cell 703.475-3228

Seth Gunning, Sierra Club, 404.607.1262 x 233

Katherine Helms Cummings, FACE 478.232.8010

Dianna Wedincamp, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, 866.942.6222 x 3
New Safeguard Will Promote Health, Highlights Failings of EMC-Backed Coal Plant
 
Atlanta, GA-State environmental, consumer interest, and public health groups with Georgians for Smart Energy applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new, and long-overdue, safeguard to protect against toxic mercury and other emissions from coal-fired power plants.
 
In addition to marking a major step forward for public health in Georgia, the new toxics rule highlights the failings of a proposal to build the first new coal-fired power plants in Georgia in decades.
 
“The new mercury safeguard is a great victory for the health of all Georgians,” said Seth Gunning, with Sierra Club. “EPA’s mercury standard will protect children and families from a pervasive poison and create jobs in the pollution control industry.”
 
EPA’s new Mercury and Air Toxics Standard is required under the Clean Air Act, the landmark environmental and public health legislation that has been the driving force for addressing harmful air pollution across the country.
 
“Plant Longleaf was cancelled just as the EPA announced new tougher standards for mercury emissions,” said Dianna Wedincamp, Ogeechee Riverkeeper. “Common sense indicates that the state should not issue a permit for Plant Washington that adds nearly 40 times more mercury to our air than the new EPA standards allow when mercury levels have been a problem in our rivers for decades.” 
 
Power4Georgians (P4G), a consortium of state EMCs led by Cobb EMC, was recently issued a final air quality permit for a proposed 850 MW coal-fired power plant in Washington County. The mercury levels allowed in the permit far exceed the levels allowed by the new rule, drawing questions from EMC members concerned about the viability of Plant Washington.
 
“Power4Georgians has repeatedly and publicly misled the public and EMC members about the pollution from their dirty proposal. Despite their repeated claims, Plant Washington's air permit allows it to emit nearly 40 times more mercury then the new EPA safeguard allows and would be dirtier than other coal plants in Georgia built over 40 years,” said Katherine Cummings, the Executive Director of the Fall-line Alliance for a Clean Environment, a Washington County-based organization. “We know that mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin, so we must ask the question: is P4G ignoring the science, or do they simply not care about our health?”
 
Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury pollution in the United States. In Georgia, coal plants released 1,154 pounds of mercury pollution in 2010. People are exposed to mercury by breathing the fine particles into their lungs as well as eating contaminated fish, which absorb pollution rained down on to Georgia’s rivers, lakes, and streams. Georgia currently has fish consumption advisories in all but one of its river basins due to mercury contamination.
 
Mercury pollution especially threatens pregnant women and young children. Alarmingly, as many as one in six American women in some areas have enough mercury in their bodies to put a baby at risk of neurological damage and developmental disorders. Across America, more than 300,000 babies are born each year at risk of mercury poisoning. In addition to healthier pregnancies and healthier babies, the EPA estimates the value of health improvements from the new safeguards to be between $59-140 billion nationwide.
 
“Powering our homes should not poison our kids,” said Jennette Gayer, Program Coordinator for Environment Georgia. “After decades of coal lobbyists getting their way, EPA has finally issued a rule that is a major step toward clean air and healthy Georgians.”
 
The strong mercury protections will cut over 90% of toxic mercury from coal-fired power plant pollution. Some utilities have been preparing for the new safeguard, like Georgia Power, which intends to replace approximately 2000MWs of coal-fired power with cleaner-burning fuel sources. Georgia Power announced its first solar energy project earlier in 2011, planning to build 50MW of capacity in the near future. Other states in the South, most notably Texas, are already building significant clean energy projects that are replacing dirty and expensive coal –fired power plants.

FACE joins in appeal of Plant Washington air permit
December 19, 2011

Plant Washington air permit doesn’t meet public health standards

ATLANTA—The state air quality permit for Plant Washington, a proposed 850 mega-watt coal-fired power plant in Sandersville, GA, does not meet national public health standards that even 50 year old coal-fired power plants already meet, according to a court challenge filed today by public interest groups.

The Southern Environmental Law Center and GreenLaw challenged the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s air quality permit in the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings on behalf of the Fall-line Alliance for a Clean Environment, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, Sierra Club’s Georgia Chapter, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

As expected for over the past year, the Environmental Protection Agency recently set national standards to limit hazardous air pollutants from coal-fired power plants. The state permit does not meet the national standards for limits on harmful emissions from the plant, including dozens of hazardous air pollutants that can cause cancer, birth defects, heart disease, developmental disorders, and other serious injuries.

Under its permit, the state would allow Plant Washington to emit 36 times more mercury and 11-45 times more hydrogen chloride than the draft EPA standard would allow. Georgia Power’s Plant Hammond has achieved lower emission levels of these pollutants. Three of Plant Hammond’s four units were built in the 1950s; the fourth was built in 1970.

Around the country, 117 units emit less mercury and 99-168 units emit less hydrogen chloride than what the state permit allows.

In December 2010, a state court found the initial state air quality permit for the Plant Washington violated Clean Air Act safeguards to limit harmful air pollution and directed the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to reconsider its permit.  

Plant Washington is a project of Power4Georgians, a company organized by Cobb Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) and four other EMCs.

Quotes from the attorney and client groups represented in the legal challenge follow:

“It’s déjà vu all over again,” said Justine Thompson, Executive Director of GreenLaw. “The state has again issued a permit that fails to afford its citizens the maximum degree of protection against toxic air pollution.”

“The state isn’t even requiring Plant Washington to meet national public health standards that a 50 year old plant already meets,” said Brian Gist, an attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. “If the state won’t protect its residents—including the most vulnerable infants, pregnant women and the elderly—from hazardous air pollution and require this plant to meet national standards, we’ll ask the courts to enforce the law.”

“The EPD is supposed to protect the health of the citizens of Georgia and our natural resources. This air permit for Plant Washington does neither of those things,” said Katherine Helms Cummings, director of the Fall-line Alliance for a Clean Environment.

“Plant Longleaf was cancelled just as the EPA announced new tougher standards for mercury emissions,” said Dianna Wedincamp, the Ogeechee Riverkeeper. “Common sense indicates that the state should not issue a permit for Plant Washington that adds 36 times more mercury to the environment than the new EPA standards allow when mercury levels have been a problem in our rivers for decades.” 

“Since Power4Georgians has no experience developing coal-plants, it’s not surprising that this glaring oversight happened,” said Colleen Kiernan Director of the Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club.   “Failing to meet major federal health protections isn't their first major mistake, and won’t be their last. Georgians cannot trust Power4Georgians with billions of ratepayer dollars.”

“Power4Georgian’s lack of compliance in the air permit with the new mercury standard is a notable omission,” stated Ulla Reeves regional program director for Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “Claims by Dean Alford that Plant Washington would be among the nation’s cleanest coal plants are flat out mistruths and the excess mercury currently permitted is clear indication of this falsehood.” 

Read the appeal here.

Coal doesn't make sense. Where have we heard this before?
December 13, 2011

The developer who canceled the Longleaf coal plant proposed for Early County included these reasons for their decision:

reduced demand for electricity
no contracts with power purchasers
lower costs of natural gas
competition from other suppliers
emission regulations
construction costs

Justine Thompson, who represents FACE in legal actions opposing Plant Washington, told the Fulton County Daily Report, “Coal plant users should take note that Southern Company and LS have both moved away from coal, they see coal as problematic,” Thompson said. “So what makes these small producers know more than the largest energy producers in the country?”

Thompson asks the very same question co-op members in Washington County have been asking since the plant was announced almost four years ago. Frank Askew, Washington EMC CEO, told FACE members in May of this year that there is no independent research or business plan to be shared with members, who will ultimately bear the burden of the plant's costs. WEMC members should be aware of a new co-op coal plant that sits idle now in Minnesota.

LONGLEAF COAL PLANT CANCELED!!! GRASSROOTS VICTORY!
December 12, 2011

After almost 11 years of "in the trenches" and courtroom battles, Bobby and Jane McClendon of Friends of the Chattahoochee, Colleen Kiernan with the Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club, and Justine Thompson of GreenLaw announced that Longleaf has been canceled by LS Power in New Jersey.

Longleaf in Early County, which would have been a 1200 MW facility, now tops the list of 160 proposed coal plants that have been canceled since the Sierra Club launched its Beyond Coal campaign in 2005. Justine Thompson at GreenLaw said, “Longleaf’s cancelation is one of dozens that have swept the nation, which raises the question – when will state officials finally learn that Georgia’s citizens deserve better than coal?”

What does this mean now for Plant Washington? It serves as a clear indication that coal is not profitable for stockholders. This victory also demonstrates to local officials and EMC leaders that grassroots work done by concerned citizens, and good attorneys who are committed to protecting the health of citizens and natural resources instead of billing huge hourly rates, can stop a coal plant in Georgia.

A year ago FACE's Executive Director told the Washington County Commissioners that FACE is in this work until Plant Washington is defeated. We are learning from a successful example how to do this.

FACE owes a huge debt to the McClendon's who have served as stalwart leaders among local citizens who are willing to stand up and do what is best, no matter how unpopular, for their community. Additionally the Sierra Club, GreenLaw, and the experts who have helped crunch numbers, develop strategy, and worked long hours are due many thanks from FACE leaders and members.

Read more here about the long battle which has resulted in this victory.

New report on electricity in the South
December 6, 2011

A new report separates fact from fiction concerning clean electricity in the South. Myths and facts about electricity in the U.S.South addresses energy production, conservation, and efficiency. This report serves as a tool for the public as well as the energy industry. The lead author, Dr. Marilyn Brown at GA Tech, is highly regarded for her work on energy in the South, in addition to being a Nobel Peace Price recipient.

Consumers Energy in Michigan decides there is no profit in coal
December 5, 2011

Consumers Energy in Michigan announced that it will abandon an 830 MGW coal plant and shutter seven existing coal plants last Friday. “There is consensus brewing here---Consumers Energy has come to the same conclusion as 158 other companies, that coal just doesn’t make economic sense,” said Shannon Fisk of the Midwest Office of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Read more here.

Riverkeeper sums up disappointment in EPD and leadership
December 5, 2011

Gov. Deal announced Friday that he has chosen Jud Turner to lead the EPD when Allen Barnes resigned last week to return to private practice law (Before leading the EPD, Barnes was an attorney with King and Spalding, the firm which has billed Cobb EMC over $10M in cases against the co-op's own members).

Disappointment in the choice was immediate across the state.
Sally Bethea with the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, "The new EPD Director, who apparently has no background in environmental issues, has a formidable challenge before him, especially given the intense pressure from the industries that EPD regulates."


Support FACE here.

Sandersville lands on Georgia's Dirty Dozen list
November 5, 2011

The Ogeechee River, long known for the dangerously high mercury levels already identified in the water and its wildlife, leads the list of Georgia's Dirty Dozen, released by the Georgia Water Coalition. The EPD's absolute failure to know about King Finishing's unpermitted discharges into the river, which went on for five years during which time the EPD inspected the facility, resulted in the state's largest fish kill on record in May.

FACE President Larry Warthen says that Washington County residents can take no pride in their community being listed as number 6 due to the coal fired power plant proposed in part by Washington EMC. "The plant will suck 16M gallons of water per day from the Oconee River, when there is sufficient water there to be used. When river levels are too low, Power4Georgians will rely on 15 wells near the plant, threatening the recharge area for the Ogeechee, in addition to home and agricultural wells, while spewing additional mercury into the Ogeechee from its stacks."

Read more about the Dirty Dozen here.


Washington EMC finances, tax return, and bylaws available online
September 30, 2011

FACE has posted the 2010 tax return, financial statement, and bylaws for Washington EMC. None of these have been available online before. You can help support FACE's efforts toward building an open and transparent co-op by joining us or donating today. All member names are private and protected by law.