Georgia Judge Kills State's 1st Coal Plant in 20 Years, Makes Climate History
by Stacy Feldman - Jul 1st, 2008
Dynegy Inc. has the most proposed coal-fired power plants of any company in the nation. And it’s just been dealt a heavy blow.
A Superior Court judge in Georgia has ruled to kill the construction of Dynegy's proposed 1,200-megawatt, $2 billion coal plant on the banks of the Chattahoochee River.
Longleaf was its name. And it was slated to be Georgia’s first new coal-fired power plant in 20 years.
But for now, it's dead, on account of Dynegy’s failure to do anything to limit the facility's CO2 emissions.
Historic.
And here's why. The ruling marks the very first time that a court in America has applied the 2007 US Supreme Court decision that CO2 is a dangerous air pollutant, subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. And it may just unleash a flurry of such rulings all over the nation.
Have a look for yourself at the 20-page Georgia decision here (pdf), and read a piece of America’s climate-solving history in the making.
The new Georgia plant would emit nine million tons of CO2, annually. That’s equivalent to adding 1.3 million cars on the state’s roads every year. A typical coal plant emits 3.7 million tons.
Here’s more on the pollutant-spewing facility, courtesy of Green Law, the plaintiff lawyers in the case:
- The plant would unnecessarily emit 4,700 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) every year.
- The plant would violate EPA’s standards for safe air by exceeding ambient air quality standards for fine particulate matter where the plant is located.
- The plant would emit nitrogen oxide (NOx), causing smog, acid rain, and health problems (EPD is allowing Dynegy to save money by capturing only 67% of these emissions).
- The plant would be allowed to take more than 20 million gallons (net) per day from the Chattahoochee River -- the permit allows intake of 27 million gallons, of which roughly 5 million are supposed to be returned.
In the months ahead, the eyes of the nation will be on the Georgia courts, the latest ground zero in the fight against dirty coal.
Stay tuned. An appeal is coming.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Georgia Judge Kills State's 1st Coal Plant in 20 Years, Makes Cl
Hi,
Thanks for the information. I would like to know more about it.
Snoreta
georgia drug rehab
Georgia Judge Kills State's 1st Coal Plant in 20 Years, Makes Cl
Its unfortunate. These kinds of fire accidents should be stopped at the right time. All ready the world nations are struggling a lot to reduce pollution and maintain the earth green. So care must be taken.
______
jackspar.
Georgia Drug Treatment
It's great that the Judge
It's great that the Judge stopped this for now.
I wish we could do the same in VA with the Wise County plant that is in the works.
It's being billed as a clean coal (no such thing) plant, so this judge probably would've let it through anyway.
Post new comment