ATLANTA, Oct. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power today
announced the latest progress on its plan to safely close all of
its 29 ash ponds across the state.
As previously announced, all of the company's ash ponds will
cease operations and stop receiving ash within the next three
years. Additionally, the company is completely removing the ash
from 17 ponds located adjacent to lakes or rivers. The ash from
these ponds will be relocated to a permitted landfill, consolidated
with other closing ash ponds on site or recycled for beneficial
use. Approximately 50 percent of the coal ash Georgia Power
produces today is recycled for various uses such as Portland
cement, concrete, and cinder blocks. As part of its comprehensive
strategy to implement effective closure plans designed for each
individual site, the company is in the process of closing the
remaining 12 ash ponds using advanced engineering methods, such as
the installation of impermeable concrete barriers designed to
restrict or isolate the closed pond from groundwater.
Over the past few months, the company has made significant
progress on closure activities for 23 of its 29 ash ponds. Progress
includes:
- The complete removal of the ash from three of the 17 ponds
located adjacent to lakes or rivers, as well as substantial
progress made on three additional ponds expected to be fully
excavated before Q4 2017.
- Significant construction work completed on five of the 12 ponds
to be closed in place using advanced engineering methods. One pond
is scheduled to be completed in Q4 2016, one pond in Q1 2017, and
the other three to be completed by Q1 2018.
- Engineering activity at all 29 ash ponds underway with active
construction occurring at 11 ponds and pre-construction activities
at another 12 ponds.
- The completion of the first of eight rounds of groundwater
testing at all 29 ash ponds for 20 different regulated and
unregulated substances. All results are being reported to the
Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and being posted to
the company's web site.
- More than 100 documents related to the company's Coal
Combustion Residual (CCR) compliance program (i.e. closure plans,
design construction information, etc.) have been prepared and are
expected be posted to the web site by mid-November (in addition to
currently posted information.)
- Technology selections have been made and active engineering and
construction activities for dry ash conversion projects have begun
at the company's largest facilities, including Plants Bowen,
Scherer and Wansley.
Click here to view a chart detailing the closure method for all
29 ash ponds.
Ash pond closures are site-specific and balance multiple factors
such as pond size, location, geology, and amount of material; and
each closure will be certified by a team of independent,
professional engineers. Additionally, the company must also ensure
reliable electricity for customers during the significant
construction work that must take place within each generating plant
in order to accommodate the handling of dry ash and complete the
ash pond closure process.
Throughout the closure process, Georgia Power is monitoring
groundwater around all of its ash ponds and reporting the results
to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division as well as posting
to the company's web site. Additionally, more than 500 groundwater
monitoring wells will continue to operate even after the ponds are
closed.
Georgia Power delivers clean, safe, reliable and affordable
energy through a diverse generation mix, which includes renewable
energy, such as wind and solar, along with natural gas, nuclear and
coal-fired generation. Over the last five years, Georgia Power has
safely retired or fuel-switched approximately 4,000 MW of coal and
oil-fired generation and the company's coal-fired generation
capacity is nearly half of what it was in 2005.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's
largest generators of electricity. Value, Reliability,
Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the
company's promise to 2.5 million customers in all but four of
Georgia's 159 counties. Committed
to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates
below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse,
innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal
and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric
and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering
world-class service to its customers every day and the company is
consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry
leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit
www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook
(Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter
(Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain information contained in this
release is forward-looking information based on current
expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties.
Forward-looking information includes, among other things,
statements concerning the method and timing of closure of coal ash
ponds. Georgia Power Company cautions that there are certain
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader
is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking
information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is
subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of
which are outside the control of Georgia Power Company;
accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results
will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those
discussed in Georgia Power
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2015, and subsequent
securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially
from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking
information: the impact of recent and future federal and state
regulatory changes, including environmental laws regulating
emissions, discharges, and disposal to air, water, and land, and
also changes in tax and other laws and regulations to which Georgia
Power Company is subject, as well as changes in application of
existing laws and regulations; current and future litigation,
regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries; the ability
to control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development and
construction of facilities; the ability to construct facilities in
accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses and to
satisfy any environmental performance standards; state and federal
rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases
and negotiations, including rate actions relating to fuel and other
cost recovery mechanisms; catastrophic events such as fires,
earthquakes, explosions, floods, hurricanes and other storms,
droughts, pandemic health events such as influenzas, or other
similar occurrences; and the effect of accounting pronouncements
issued periodically by standard-setting bodies. Georgia Power
Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any
forward-looking information.
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SOURCE Georgia Power