ATLANTA— State Representative Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) today announced the introduction of House Bill 43, environmental legislation designed to protect Georgia’s clean water and air resources from coal-fire power plant pollution. Specifically, HB 43 would phase out the use of coal from mountaintop removal (MTR) mines by power plants in Georgia and would place a five year moratorium on permitting of Georgia-based coal-fire power plants. This legislation is similar to HB 276 from the 2009-10 legislative term, also introduced by Rep. Oliver.
“I am continuing my efforts to curtail the harm new coal plants will cause our state,” said Rep. Oliver. “Last year’s support from faith-based and environmental communities has been strong and encouraging. Our water and air must be protected from more coal plants, and we must use our efforts for renewable and cleaner energy sources.”
To protect Georgia’s landscape and natural resources, HB 43 would phase out use of MTR coal in Georgia over seven years. The bill would also place a ban on issuing permits for coal-fired power plants from July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2016. Further, the legislation would suspend any permit issued before July 1, 2011 for a coal-fire power plant that has not commenced operations.
Georgia continues to be one of the largest consumers of mountaintop removal coal in the nation. This is due in part to Georgia’s proximity to the MTR mines in Central Appalachia, whose coal is prized for its relatively low levels of restricted pollutants, which helps utilities meet air quality standards.
Mountaintop removal is a form of strip mining that removes hundreds of feet of elevation from a mountain in order to uncover thin seams of coal. The waste created by this form of mining is deposited into adjacent valleys, burying forests and streams.
For more information on HB 43, please click here.
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Representative Mary Margaret Oliver represents the citizens of District 83, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2002, and also has five years of previous service. She currently serves on the Appropriations, Governmental Affairs, Judiciary, and Science and Technology committees.