FW: Macon Telegraph: Georgia Power plans to truck 2 million tons of coal ash through Macon to Plant Branch near Milledgeville

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From: Mark Woodall <woodal...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2026 6:44 AM
To: Neill Herring <neillh...@earthlink.net>
Subject: Macon Telegraph: Georgia Power plans to truck 2 million tons of coal ash through Macon to Plant Branch near Milledgeville

 

LOCAL Georgia Power plans to truck 2M tons of coal ash through Macon. How will it work? 

 

By Margaret Walker February 25, 2026 11:22 AM 

 

  Georgia Power is preparing to dispose of more than two million tons of toxic coal ash currently stored in ponds at Plant Arkwright in Macon, the power company announced to neighbors of the plant Feb. 18 during an informational session. The project could take up to six years simply due to the sheer amount of ash, according to Grant Morgan, environmental affairs program manager for Plant Arkwright. The ash will be transported to Plant Branch in Milledgeville where the material will be incorporated into concrete and cement. Details were not shared on what the concrete and cement mixtures would be used for. 

 

 “Because coal ash contains toxic metals and other pollutants, it’s important to move it out of unlined, leaking coal ash pits to recycling or safe, lined storage away from our waterways,” said Nick Torrey, attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. Plant Arkwright is a former coal-fired power plant that began operating in the 1940s and generated electricity for decades along the Ocmulgee River before closing in 2010. 

 

Although the plant has been inactive for years, millions of tons of coal ash remained stored in on-site ponds, leading to the current cleanup effort. Recycling ponded coal ash for concrete is particularly beneficial because it stops a source of dangerous water pollution by removing the ash from leaking pits. This process locks harmful pollutants into the concrete so they can’t leak out, makes the concrete stronger and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional concrete, according to Torrey. 

 

  What is coal ash? Why is it being removed? Coal ash is the waste left behind after coal is burned to generate electricity and often contains toxic metals such as arsenic, lead and mercury, which can contaminate groundwater if not properly stored. Under federal coal ash rules issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, utilities nationwide have been required in recent years to close or clean up unlined coal ash ponds that can contaminate groundwater, according to the EPA’s website. The removal is required under state and federal coal ash regulations, according to Morgan. 

 

Georgia Power is spending about $8.5 billion dollars on the coal ash cleanup program, statewide, over the next 10 to 15 years. Any revenue generated from reuse would go toward offsetting the cost of closing the ash ponds. “Any proceeds from beneficial use will be used to offset closure cost,” said Matthew Kent, spokesperson for Georgia Power. “The details of the projected benefits are trade secret.” 

 

How will the coal ash be moved? Starting in 2027, there will be roughly 30 trucks making multiple trips from Arkwright to Branch for about 10 hours Mondays through Fridays, according Kent. Before the trucking can begin, Georgia Power said the Plant Arkwright site will undergo a series of construction and infrastructure upgrades to support the operation. Those improvements include changes to site access, security enhancements and work near a railroad crossing. The preparatory construction is not expected to disrupt traffic on Arkwright Road, though it will directly impact neighbors. 

 

“That’s the biggest reason we had the meeting with y’all tonight is because ingress and egress is a concern for us,” Morgan said. “But understand, we are gonna have a lot of trucks in and out of this site, and so safety is our number one concern.” At the information session, Georgia Power representatives addressed concerns about dust and water generated during the coal ash removal process. The trucks carrying coal ash will be covered with tarps, and water sprays and other suppression methods will be used during excavation and transport to prevent ash from becoming airborne, according to Morgan. An on-site water treatment system will be installed to handle rainwater and other water within the coal ash ponds, according to Morgan. The water will be treated and tested before being discharged into the river under a state-issued permit.

 

 “We have all our plans submitted to EPD (Environmental Protection Division),” said Morgan. “They include dust control plans, we’ve got dewatering plans and regulations that we have to comply with the EPD, and so, we’ve worked through all those aspects of the project, submitted those to EPD, and .. they’re approving us for this.” Transportation of coal ash for recycling has a positive track record, according to Torrey. “From our experience with utilities in both Carolinas, cleanups and transportation of coal ash for recycling have been done successfully and without problems or complaints from neighbors that we know of,” said Torrey. “My understanding is that utilities and their contractors … have lots of experience with the transportation/safety considerations.”

 

 Plant Arkwright is a former coal-fired power plant that began operating in the 1940s and generated electricity for decades along the Ocmulgee River before closing in 2010. Although the plant has been inactive for years, millions of tons of coal ash remained stored in on-site ponds, leading to the current cleanup effort.

Read more at: https://www.macon.com/news/local/article314811498.html#storylink=cpy