The state's top environmental regulator for air pollution says the air in eastern Georgia will be cleaner if and when a coal plant is built near Sandersville in Washington County.
Jac Capp, chief of the state environmental protection division's air protection branch, says the plant also won't add to ozone air pollution in Augusta or Macon. Macon is already near two other coal plants, one of them dubbed by environmental groups as the dirtiest in the U.S.
Coal plants are in the process of reducing pollutant emissions as required by federal and state regulations.
Capp says that the proposed new coal plant, Plant Washington, will also have lower emissions of pollutants.
But environmental groups disagree with Capp's comments. They say the goal of EPD should be to not pollute at all.
Ozone triggers respiratory illnesses. The EPD recently recommended, for the first time, that mid-sized cities in Georgia have failed ozone air pollution standards. Her recommendations are required by federal law and based on measures of the ozone. Newer and tougher restrictions this year have contributed to the cities falling into this category. The federal government will ultimately make the decision on whether the cities, which include Augusta, Macon and Columbus.
The state EPD is beginning the permitting process for Plant Washington. But Capp and his staff have already reviewed an extensive proposal for the plant.
Hear audio about Plant Washington:
Jac Capp, Georgia Environmental Protection Division
Midge Sweet, Georgians for Smart Energy
