Crush of Georgia environmentalists line up behind EPA greenhouse gas regulations opposed by carbon polluters

Representatives of Georgia nonprofit environmental groups were among those holding signs on Tuesday proclaiming “Cut Climate Pollution” in front of the Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters in Washington D.C. The EPA received one million public comments on a rule designed to slash greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fueled power plants. (Photo courtesy of Climate Action Campaign)

The Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power plants has been endorsed by a crush of environmental advocates in Georgia.

By the end of Tuesday’s public comment deadline, the EPA reported receiving more than 1 million responses across the nation to its proposed rule that is designed to reduce carbon pollution from 2028-2042 by 617 million metric tons, or roughly half the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by half the cars in the U.S. 

The rule would regulate power plants operated by Georgia Power and other utilities at fossil fuel facilities where coal and oil is burned in order to generate electricity. Georgia Power is shutting down the majority of its coal burning units over the next several years, determining that the aging coal producing units are no longer economically viable in the long term.