Friday, January 18, 2002
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Friday, January 18, 2002 |
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Statewide coalition seeks moratorium on new power plant permits
Responding to an onslaught of companies from outside Georgia seeking applications to build and operate new power plants here, South Fulton's Safeguard South Metro Inc. has joined citizen groups from across the state in calling on the governor's Energy Task Force to recommend that the Environmental Protection Division not issue any additional permits until the state has a comprehensive energy policy in place. The citizen groups, which include statewide public interest advocacy groups as well as local groups concerned about plants proposed in their areas, are getting signatures on postcards that they will deliver to state Sen. Charles Tanksley, chairman of the Energy Task Force, at the end of January. The Energy Task Force was convened in the fall and is charged with ensuring the environmentally conscious generation of reliable, affordable and adequate electric energy. "Why have an Energy Task Force make recommendations on a state energy policy if Georgia's energy future is already decided by companies from outside Georgia?" said an official at Safeguard. According to information compiled by the Energy Information Administration, an arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, Georgia was a net exporter of electricity in 1999, with a net generating capacity of about 25,000 megawatts, according to the organization. Since 1996, Georgia EPD has permitted 19 new power plants with capacity of 12,000 megawatts, and is reviewing applications for an additional 10 plants of 8,500 megawatts. Georgia EPD has met with companies concerning 11 other facilities, but has not yet received their applications, according to Safeguard. "We do not need to double electricity production in Georgia. The state already produces more than Georgia consumers could ever use," said Mari Jo Paladino, president of Safeguard. "Burning fossil fuels to produce electricity places a huge strain on our water resources and dirties our already unhealthy air," she added. More than 2.5 million Georgians already live in areas where the air is unhealthy to breathe, due to ground level ozone, or smog, which results from nitrogen oxides released by power plants and automobiles, Paladino said. Epidemiological studies have found that more than 1,600 Georgians' lives are shortened annually due to air pollution from power plants from airborne fine particulates that are produced by coal-fired power plants, she said. Several Southeast states have already implemented moratoriums on new plants until state plans are in place. Kentucky issued a moratorium June 20, Tennessee followed suit July 24. The groups would like to not only see an assessment of the existing plants' impact on public and natural resources, but a focus on expanding Georgia's energy mix to include cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy. For information visit Safeguard at www.NoPowerPlant.org.
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