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Power Plant Would Further Drain Georgia

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By LYLE V. HARRIS Cox News Service

Published: November 7, 2007

Months before the drought had seized the public's full attention, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division granted permits for a new coal-fired power plant in Early County, a rural community in a severely depressed corner of southwest Georgia. But for a variety of reasons - including mounting concerns about long-lasting water shortages and worsening air pollution - state regulators ought to reconsider, or even reverse, the decision.

The drought has forced citizens and political officials to confront environmental concerns that are usually brushed aside. So, while Mother Nature has our attention, Georgia's leaders should think broadly about conserving all of our resources and expanding our energy portfolio.

In May, EPD officials approved plans submitted by LS Power Group and Dynegy, large companies that build and operate power plants across the country. The $2 billion Longleaf Energy Station would sit on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, about 50 miles upstream from Florida.

Early County officials have embraced the Longleaf plant as a potential source of jobs and much-needed tax dollars.

But the plant's permit is being challenged by a coalition of environmental organizations that have raised troubling questions about the permitting process.

Regardless of the outcome, the Longleaf plant underscores larger issues. Last year, a task force created by Gov. Sonny Perdue completed a long-range comprehensive energy strategy for Georgia. About two-thirds of Georgia's electricity is generated by coal-fired plants, such as Longleaf, which scientists say are contributing to global climate change.

The governor's plan calls for aggressively exploring renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and ethanol fuel derived from pine trees that are plentiful in areas of the state desperately in need of new industry.

Unfortunately, Perdue's energy plan has been gathering dust since then. But he cannot overlook the fact that our energy and water policy are inextricably linked.

For example, the plant is expected to consume nearly 20 million gallons of water a day from the Chattahoochee River, putting an additional strain on metro Atlanta's major source of drinking water.

The twin specters of continued drought and global warming have provided ample warning that the days of conducting business as usual are over.

Lyle V. Harris is on the editorial board of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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