CARTERSVILLE — A new Sierra Club study estimates that coal-fired power Plant Bowen in Bartow County is one of the nation’s most out-of-control polluters with its smokestacks to blame for 59 premature deaths in the last few years.
The Sierra Club report ranks Bowen as the 17th most dangerous in the nation, primarily caused by the soot-emitting coal power plants that the organization says have led to 3,800 premature deaths across the nation. Plant Bowen will be the state’s last coal-fired power generator in operation when state regulators will decide in 2025 the timeline to shut down its units as Georgia Power transitions to cleaner forms of energy.
Charline Whyte, senior campaign representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, said in a statement that Bowen remains a massive polluter that’s forced people in surrounding Bartow County to inhale dirty air for decades.
“This report shows that, thanks to Bowen, 59 Georgians die per year due to exposure to toxic soot pollution that causes asthma and other health issues,” Whyte said. “Last year, the Georgia Public Service Commission decided to keep the coal burning at Plant Bowen, despite Georgia Power asking to close Bowen down. One human life is worth fighting for, let alone over 50 per year. Unfortunately, the PSC’s bad decisions will result in more unnecessary deaths.”
The latest environmental report comes four months after the Sierra Club also scored low marks for Georgia Power parent Southern Co. in its…
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