DIRTY DOZEN LIST 2016 Highlights Energy-Related Threats to Water
November 16, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Amelia Shenstone, Campaigns Director, 339-223-0536, [email protected]
Sara Barczak, High Risk Energy Choices Program Director, 912-201-0354, [email protected]
DIRTY DOZEN LIST 2016 Highlights Energy-Related Threats to Water
Clean energy advocate to Georgia Power: Set retirement date for Plant Hammond and abandon water-guzzling nuclear power plant proposal
November 16, 2016: Today, the Georgia Water Coalition named its “Dirty Dozen” for 2016, highlighting 12 of the worst offenses to Georgia’s waters. This year, 8 of 12 “culprits” were from the energy sector. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) and our partners nominated two issues that were included in this year’s report:
- Coosa River: Outdated Regulations Allow Coal-fired Power Plant To Dump Toxins in River
- Chattahoochee River: $99 Million Nuclear Power Plant Study Squeezes Ratepayers, Water and Clean Energy
The annual Dirty Dozen shines a spotlight on threats to Georgia’s water resources. It also highlights the polluters and state policies or failures that threaten the health and safety of Georgia’s waters. See the Coalition’s full press release here.
Coosa River: Outdated Regulations Allow Coal-fired Power Plant To Dump Toxins in River
In response to today’s report release, Amelia Shenstone, Campaigns Director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, made this statement:
“A year ago a respected economist found that Plant Hammond can’t compete with lower-carbon, less water-intensive alternative power sources; today’s nomination highlights that this coal plant is also overdue for necessary water pollution controls. Setting a retirement date is the best path forward for Plant Hammond as it will protect both the river and the ratepayers. Simultaneously, it would allow the local community to plan a transition that maintains its economic health, seeking new investments as Plant Hammond is phased out.”
Chattahoochee River: $99 Million Nuclear Power Plant Study Squeezes Ratepayers, Water and Clean Energy
In response to today’s report release, Sara Barczak, High Risk Energy Choices Program Director, made this statement regarding Georgia Power’s proposal to study the feasibility of building two nuclear reactors in Stewart County along the Chattahoochee River:
“Earlier this year the national river advocacy group, American Rivers, named the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river basin as the ‘most endangered river’ in the country in part because of the more than two-decades battle among Georgia, Florida and Alabama over the use of the overly-stressed Chattahoochee River.
“Wholly ignoring the imperiled designation of the Chattahoochee River, Georgia Power wants to plop an expensive, water-guzzling, radioactive-waste-producing nuclear power plant along its banks in southwest Georgia and ask its customers to foot the bill for speculative studies.
“Instead of squandering Georgia’s precious water resources and wasting their customers’ money on such a risky nuclear power proposal, Georgia Power should pursue affordable, water smart, low- or no-carbon energy choices such as wind and solar and ways to reduce electricity use through energy efficiency and conservation.”