Melissa Williams, melissa.williams@sierraclub.org
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama Power Company today announced it will retire the William Crawford Gorgas Electric Generating Plant in Walker County, which has operated on the banks of the Black Warrior River since 1917.
Plant Gorgas has three coal-burning units, and the utility said it would require about $300 million to comply with federal protections regulating the management of coal ash and safeguarding groundwater.
Every existing Alabama Power coal ash site in the state is polluting the groundwater, according to the utility's filings last year. The filings showed exceedances of arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lithium and molybdenum at Plant Gorgas alone. The filings also showed that the base of every existing coal ash pond is located within five feet of the uppermost aquifer.
In response, Stephen Stetson, representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in Alabama, issued the following statement:
“Plant Gorgas is more than a century old and this ancient coal plant is uneconomical and long overdue for retirement. Gorgas, like every coal ash site in Alabama, is polluting groundwater and putting public health and safety at risk. Alabama Power is getting the message about the importance of moving away from the dirty, dangerous coal of the past and embracing 100 percent clean, safe renewable energy, which boosts our economy and protects the environment at the same time.
“We’re looking forward to Alabama Power preparing for responsible environmental closure of this site, and for fair and equitable economic transition plans for affected workers and communities in Walker County and the surrounding areas.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.