Prepared by: Scherer

The Solution Powerplant Group

ENVS 832
Agenda
• Problem Statement
• Negotiation Purpose
• Position
• Concerns/Interest
• Non-negotiables
• Risk Assessment Framework
• Risk Mitigation
• Conditions
• Happiness Factor
 Problem Scherer’s high level of emissions and toxic pollutants
from the stacks and coal ash ponds not only impact
Statement the environment/ecosystem but adversely affects
human health.
 Should the Scherer Coal-fired Power Plant be closed?
Negotiation Or should it be upgraded to meet required
standards?
Purpose
 Initial
Negotiation
 Community Environmental Group Industry Government

The public’s primary concern High emissions from the

is the impact the emissions plant -15 million metric tons
from the plant have on their of CO2e
health. (Global warming concerns)

The public are also having The Plant emitting 1,649

concerns about losing their pounds of mercury.
homes in the future if the (Impact on health, fish and
plant plans to expand its wildlife)

Concerns/Interests buffer zone

emissions.
due to

Lack of transparency of the Georgia Power failure to

company. remove waste from leaking,
unlined coal ash ponds.
(Impact health and
environment)

Multiple toxic pollutants

exceed levels that are safe
for human consumption e.g.
cobalt in wells.
(Impact health)
Concerns/Interests
General public
• The public’s primary concern is the impact
the emissions from the plant have on their
health.   and coal ash ponds from the coal power
• The public are also having concerns about
losing their homes in the future if the plant
plans to expand its buffer zone due to
emissions.
• Lack of transparency of the company.
Environmental Group
• The environmental group is concerned about
the adverse health effects of air emissions
plant on communities.
• Concerned about the environmental impacts
the plant will have on water quality and
biodiversity.
Concerns/Interests Cont’d
Industry
• Generate reliable and affordable energy for
2.5 million customers across the state
• Comply with the standards
• Supporting local, regional and state
community and economic development
partners in bringing new jobs and capital
investment to Georgia
Government
• Support local businesses that create
employment opportunities, generate revenue
and help boost the economy
• Support initiatives that incorporate and
promote sustainable development initiatives.
• Develops regulations and standards to prevent
excessive release of pollutants into the
environment and protection of human health,
natural resources, and the environment.
• Monitors and enforces air emissions and
releases of contaminants into air and surface
water bodies
Power Industry’s Position
• Provide $1.2 billion tax to the government.
• Pays $790 million each year.
• Provide Energy/electricity to 2.5 million homes.
• Charity giving $22 millions every year.
• Scherer provides electricity 1.5 million homes.
• Employment for 400 people from local community.
• $5 billion investment for reduce emission and improve air quality.

Provided the social and economic contribution of Georgia Power, and the dependency of 1.5 million
homes on Scherer for power; we are against shutting down Scherer.
 • 75 km radius
Terms of • Human health compromise
Agreement • Cutting power to 2.5 Million people
 Increase the efficiency of coal-fired

High
power plants

Efficiency
Low One percent improvement in
efficiency reduces the 2-3 %
Emissions emissions

Technologies
Reduce GHGs (CO2) and non-GHG
emissions such as nitrogen oxide
(NOx), Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and
particulate matter (PM)
High Efficiency Low Emissions Technologies
Cont’d
 IGCC plants use a gasifier to convert coal

Integrated
(or other carbon-based materials) to
syngas, which drives a combined cycle
turbine to produce electricity

Gasification
Combined
Cycle (IGCC)
Key step along 
a pathway to near-zero emissions from c
oal
 with carbon capture, use and storage
(CCUS).
 Coal Non-Drinkable Water

Integrated Gasification (Syngas and Pure CO2)

Gasification Syngas Syngas and CO2 CO2

Combined Electricity
Fertilizers/
Ammonia
Mining

Cycle (IGCC)
Cont’d
Revenues
 Electrostatic Precipitators use an
electric field to create charge in
order to collect

Particulate Fabric Filters

Matter
Efficiency – PM can be removed
99.95%+
 Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) is a group
of technologies that, when deployed,
reduce SO2 and Nox emissions

SO2 and NO2 Use chemical sorbent such as lime or

limestone, to remove SO2 from the flue
gas.

Efficiency – 80-90%
Water Contamination

Water contamination:
 Close 11 ash ponds,
 Involve treating the ash ponds
Remaining ash ponds will be lined, and will go through the same process once the
transition to syngas is completed.
Timeline: 6 months - 1 year
Reverse Osmosis

• Reverse Osmosis (RO) filtration is a

water filtration method.
• Water is forced across a semi-
permeable membrane, leaving
contaminants behind
• RO systems remove pollutants from
water including nitrates, pesticides,
sulfates, fluoride, bacteria,
pharmaceuticals, arsenic and much
more
Lack of Regulation

• Review various regulations available

and develop a customized coal fired
power plant regulations.
• Timeline: 1 - 2 years
Conditions
● If within 5 years the agreed upon commitments are not fulfilled then the
government will shut the power plant down

● Any future contamination will be remediated by the organization

● A progression report alongside the emission levels and groundwater

monitoring data should be submitted to the government and made public in
the organization's website
Happiness Meter
• Environmental: 80% happy
• Reasoning: no remediation measures will be taken for already contaminated
groundwater  
• Community: 75% happy
• Reasoning: people still have a chance of losing their homes
• Industry: 60% happy
• Reasoning: the updating costs will be very high and the government has only
a agreed to a 10% tax reduction for the next 3 years
• Government: 100%
• Reasoning: succeeded in mediating a reasonable negotiation that ended with
the majority of the parties interests addressed
Thank You!
Questions