Georgia Power bracing for proposed EPA emissions rules

By Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A fight over proposed new federal regulations of mercury and toxins landed Thursday in Georgia, where stakes may be among the highest in the nation.

If approved, the rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would require owners of coal and oil-fired power plants to add new high-tech equipment to reduce mercury and other emissions.

In Georgia, coal-fired boilers produce more than 70 percent of the electricity. The state also is home to Southern Co., an economic and lobbying powerhouse as well as the largest producer of electricity – mostly from coal plants -- in the Southeast.

Both sides of the debate focus largely on cost. Environmental and health care advocates say pollution from coal plants is helping drive up health care costs. Utility and manufacturing officials warn that complying with stricter environmental controls could costs millions of dollars -- a price that eventually will show up in customers' utility bills.

Georgia Power in March warned state utility regulators of its plans to shut down two coal-fired units at its Plant Branch unit in Milledgeville. The decision is based on the pending EPA rules that would require the utility to install equipment to meet stricter environmental controls, the company said.

Chris Hobson, Southern’s chief environmental officer, told EPA officials at the hearing Thursday that the proposed rules are one of the most “burdensome, far-reaching, expensive rules” from the agency. The company also would not be able to install pollution controls on all of its coal-fired plants in the required three years.

Health care and environmental advocates who spoke Thursday said lower coal-plant emissions mean people would get sick less, breathe easier and suffer from less heart attacks, respiratory diseases and cancer.

The greatest impact is on children, advocates say.

“The burden that families [who have kids] with developmental disorders have is unacceptable,” said Colleen Kiernan, director of the Georgia Sierra Club.

Atlanta was the third and final public hearing for the EPA’s proposed rules. The other hearings were held Monday in Chicago and Philadelphia.