(BUSINESS WIRE)--Power4Georgians LLC today announced the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has issued final permits for the operation of Plant Washington, an 850 Megawatt coal-fired energy facility in Washington County, Georgia.
“These permits demonstrate that the process works”
The permits issued by EPD today to Power4Georgians, LLC, include Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit for air quality; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for water discharge; a groundwater withdrawal permit; a surface water withdrawal permit; and a notice of site suitability for the solid waste handling facility.
The permits are the culmination of more than two years of work by Power4Georgians’ development team not only to meet but to exceed Georgia EPD’s rigorous air and water quality standards. Although the air and water standards in Plant Washington’s draft permits, issued by EPD in August 2009, represented standards that are acceptable under the strictest guidelines of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Power4Georgians continued to work to reduce emissions levels further while also developing an unprecedented water management strategy.
“We made significant and positive changes in our application to make our permits among the very best, if not the best, in the country,” said Dean Alford, spokesman for Power4Georgians. “We responded to suggestions raised with regard to air and water and now have exceptional standards that far exceed the strictest federal regulations for protection of human health and the environment.”
Through careful review of more than two-and-a-half years of testing data, as well as an evaluation of the technology and coal types to be used, Power4Georgians was able to devise a strategy that produced significant reductions of the emissions levels contained in the draft permit. As a result, Plant Washington’s overall emissions profile, based upon the final permit, will be among the lowest that has ever been proposed for a coal-fired power plant in the United States.
For example, preliminary evaluations conducted in the fall of 2007 – before the initial permit application was filed with EPD in January 2008 – placed the maximum annual emission of mercury at approximately 120 pounds; that level was reduced to approximately 105 pounds per year in the draft permit. Depending on the blend of fuel used, Georgia EPD’s final permit will limit Plant Washington’s mercury emissions to between 62.2 and 55.6 pounds annually – roughly half the original mercury emissions levels.
In addition, developers were able to devise an unprecedented water management strategy to conserve and reuse water, reduce water withdrawal from the environment and allow zero discharge of stormwater from the plant site.
To accomplish these water management standards, what had been stormwater runoff retention ponds in the draft permit were converted to stormwater collection and storage ponds. Collected stormwater will be reused at the plant, reducing the use of river water and groundwater. In addition, by using the stormwater as makeup water for the plant, there will be zero discharge of process or contact water to either the Ogeechee or Oconee river basins.
“These permits demonstrate that the process works,” Alford said. “In the months since we received the draft permits, we listened closely to Georgia citizens and the EPD and conducted the engineering work to ensure a much more stringent level of operational and environmental standards. I am pleased to report that we achieved every objective.”
A key component to Power4Georgians’ success in obtaining final permits for Plant Washington from the EPD was its development team. These organizations, each with their own unique expertise, included: Allied Energy Services, BLACKACRE, Cookerly Public Relations, Energy Consulting Group, Fluor Corp., King & Spalding law firm and MACTEC Engineering.
When construction begins, the plant is expected to take approximately four years to build and will create up to 1,600 professional construction and skilled trade jobs. When complete, Plant Washington is expected to create between 120 and 130 new jobs onsite, as well as an additional 200 to 300 new secondary jobs in supporting businesses and industries. The plant will generate enough electricity to meet the annual needs of 500,000 to 700,000 Georgia homes.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage
Showing posts with label permit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label permit. Show all posts
Friday, April 9, 2010
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Plant Vogtle Receives Early Site Permit
/PRNewswire/ -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today issued an Early Site Permit (ESP) for the two new units of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Waynesboro, Ga. Plant Vogtle is owned by Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia [MEAG Power] and Dalton Utilities.
The ESP is another step in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) new, streamlined licensing process designed to reduce regulatory uncertainty by completing the process in stages. Completion of the ESP process resolves many site-related safety and environmental issues, determines that the site is suitable for construction of a nuclear energy plant and successfully demonstrates the NRC's licensing process. Southern Nuclear filed an application for the ESP in August 2006.
"This is an important step for the Vogtle project, because the demand for electricity in the Southeast, and particularly in Georgia, will continue to grow," said Mike Garrett, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "The new Vogtle units will help meet our growing energy needs by providing safe, reliable and economical electricity with a zero-emission technology. The project represents a $14 billion capital investment in Georgia that will create thousands of construction jobs and 800 permanent jobs once the units are operational."
"Receiving this ESP on behalf of Plant Vogtle co-owners is a significant accomplishment for Southern Nuclear and for the nuclear industry," said Buzz Miller, executive vice president of nuclear development for Georgia Power and Southern Nuclear. "Southern Nuclear's ESP is the first one in the industry based on a specific technology, the Westinghouse AP1000. It is also the first ESP that includes a Limited Work Authorization (LWA) which allows for certain safety-related activities to begin prior to receiving a Combined License (COL) from the NRC."
In addition to the ESP, in March 2008, Southern Nuclear filed an application for a Combined License (COL) at the Vogtle site. The COL provides one license to construct and operate a nuclear power plant. The COL application is under review by the NRC. Pending appropriate approvals, Unit 3 will begin operating in 2016 and Unit 4 will become operational in 2017.
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, operates the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga., the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala. and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
The ESP is another step in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) new, streamlined licensing process designed to reduce regulatory uncertainty by completing the process in stages. Completion of the ESP process resolves many site-related safety and environmental issues, determines that the site is suitable for construction of a nuclear energy plant and successfully demonstrates the NRC's licensing process. Southern Nuclear filed an application for the ESP in August 2006.
"This is an important step for the Vogtle project, because the demand for electricity in the Southeast, and particularly in Georgia, will continue to grow," said Mike Garrett, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "The new Vogtle units will help meet our growing energy needs by providing safe, reliable and economical electricity with a zero-emission technology. The project represents a $14 billion capital investment in Georgia that will create thousands of construction jobs and 800 permanent jobs once the units are operational."
"Receiving this ESP on behalf of Plant Vogtle co-owners is a significant accomplishment for Southern Nuclear and for the nuclear industry," said Buzz Miller, executive vice president of nuclear development for Georgia Power and Southern Nuclear. "Southern Nuclear's ESP is the first one in the industry based on a specific technology, the Westinghouse AP1000. It is also the first ESP that includes a Limited Work Authorization (LWA) which allows for certain safety-related activities to begin prior to receiving a Combined License (COL) from the NRC."
In addition to the ESP, in March 2008, Southern Nuclear filed an application for a Combined License (COL) at the Vogtle site. The COL provides one license to construct and operate a nuclear power plant. The COL application is under review by the NRC. Pending appropriate approvals, Unit 3 will begin operating in 2016 and Unit 4 will become operational in 2017.
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, operates the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga., the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala. and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Georgia Environmental Protection Division Issues Draft Permits for Plant Washington
(BUSINESS WIRE)--POWER4Georgians yesterday announced that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has issued draft permits for Plant Washington, a 850 megawatt coal-fired power plant being developed near Sandersville, in Washington County, Georgia.
The EPD issued a variety of draft permitting documents related to the 1,600-acre energy facility, including what are considered to be the four primary permits for the plant: the surface water withdrawal permit, the groundwater withdrawal permit, the water discharge permit, and the air permit. POWER4Georgians, a consortium of Georgia electric membership corporations (EMCs), filed the Plant Washington permit applications with the Georgia EPD in January 2008.
“This is an important step in the development of this power plant, which is critical to making sure that affordable and reliable power continues to be available to the citizens of Georgia,” said Dean Alford, spokesperson for POWER4Georgians. “While we recognize there is a lot of work remaining to be done, the draft permits are a very positive indication that Plant Washington is moving forward.”
“Given the economic challenges our state is facing, the jobs created during the construction of this plant will provide a tremendous benefit to Washington County and the surrounding region,” said Alford. “These jobs are part of a more than $2 billion investment in providing affordable energy, which is critical to a productive, competitive state economy. Once operational, Plant Washington could help attract new industry and jobs to Georgia and even help retain existing businesses and jobs because of availability of dependable and affordable electricity.”
Plant Washington will be one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the country, generating enough electricity to meet the annual needs of 500,000 to 700,000 Georgia homes.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
The EPD issued a variety of draft permitting documents related to the 1,600-acre energy facility, including what are considered to be the four primary permits for the plant: the surface water withdrawal permit, the groundwater withdrawal permit, the water discharge permit, and the air permit. POWER4Georgians, a consortium of Georgia electric membership corporations (EMCs), filed the Plant Washington permit applications with the Georgia EPD in January 2008.
“This is an important step in the development of this power plant, which is critical to making sure that affordable and reliable power continues to be available to the citizens of Georgia,” said Dean Alford, spokesperson for POWER4Georgians. “While we recognize there is a lot of work remaining to be done, the draft permits are a very positive indication that Plant Washington is moving forward.”
“Given the economic challenges our state is facing, the jobs created during the construction of this plant will provide a tremendous benefit to Washington County and the surrounding region,” said Alford. “These jobs are part of a more than $2 billion investment in providing affordable energy, which is critical to a productive, competitive state economy. Once operational, Plant Washington could help attract new industry and jobs to Georgia and even help retain existing businesses and jobs because of availability of dependable and affordable electricity.”
Plant Washington will be one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the country, generating enough electricity to meet the annual needs of 500,000 to 700,000 Georgia homes.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
