Akzo Nobel Plans set Up Chemicals Multi-site In China
Updates increase number of completely excavated ash ponds to 19 with 10 others being closed in place using advanced engineering methods and closure technologies; Company remains focused on protecting water quality and Georgia waterways during closure and beyond
Atlanta, GA /PRNewswire/ - Georgia Power announced today updated, site-specific closure plans for ash ponds at Plants Branch and Bowen as part of its efforts to safely and permanently close 29 ash ponds at 11 current and former coal-fired power plants across the state. Based on continued engineering and analysis, the company has increased the total number of ash ponds to be completely excavated to 19 from 17, including all ash ponds located adjacent to lakes or rivers, with the remaining 10 being closed in place using advanced engineering methods and closure technologies.
"Permanently closing our ash ponds is about more than compliance for Georgia Power, it's about a persistent focus on making the best decisions for our customers, at each individual site and for our neighboring communities," said Dr. Mark Berry, vice president of Environmental & Natural Resources for Georgia Power. "Our multiyear closure strategy is aggressive and we are making great progress, while remaining committed to working quickly and safely, protecting water quality every step of the way and complying with state and federal requirements."
Georgia Power first announced its intention to permanently close all of its ash ponds in September 2015, with initial plans released in June 2016 including the complete removal of ash from 16 of 29 ash ponds. Throughout the closure process, the company has remained dedicated to protecting water quality and the state's waterways by making, and refining, site-specific closure decisions that balance multiple factors such as pond size, location, geology and amount of material. The company is meeting or exceeding all regulations regarding ash ponds and landfills in the state, and adhering to a comprehensive permitting program through which the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) approves actions related to ash pond closures. Each closure will also be certified by independent, professional engineers.
At Plant Branch, near Milledgeville, the company plans to completely excavate the ash ponds onsite, then store the ash in a new, lined landfill on plant property. The planned landfill will be fully permitted and regulated by Georgia EPD. This updated closure plan allows the company to preserve the option to better recycle the ash in the future and maximizes the potential for future redevelopment or sale of the site. More than 60 percent of the coal ash Georgia Power produces today is recycled for various beneficial uses such as Portland cement, concrete and cinder blocks.
At Plant Bowen, near Cartersville, the company has completed a thorough study of the site and its 250-acre ash pond, including local geology and closure logistics. Based on this updated evaluation, the company plans to permanently close the ash pond by excavating the ash and installing a synthetic liner to create a new, lined ash storage facility onsite that will be fully permitted and regulated by Georgia EPD.
Ash pond closure processes continue to progress at all other Georgia Power properties. As of August 2018, the company has completed closure construction activities and removed all ash from five ash ponds at Plants Branch, Kraft, McDonough and Yates. Additionally, construction activities are currently underway at multiple sites with closure construction efforts expected to be completed at six additional ash ponds at Plants McDonough, McManus, Hammond and Yates this year.
Protecting Water Quality Throughout Ash Pond Closure Process
Since 2016, Georgia Power has installed approximately 500 groundwater monitoring wells around its ash ponds and on-site landfills to actively monitor groundwater quality. Monitoring is being conducted in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. The company has also engaged independent, third-party contractors for sampling and accredited independent laboratories for analysis. The first round of testing was completed with results published in August 2016, more than 18 months ahead of federal requirements, and the company continues to post testing results on Georgia Power's website and report them to the Georgia EPD. Based on the extensive data collected, the company has identified no risk to public health or drinking water.
Georgia Power's commitment to protecting the water quality of surface waters, such as lakes and rivers, includes comprehensive and customized dewatering processes during ash pond closures. As announced in August 2017, Georgia Power's efforts to dewater its ash ponds are well underway and, similar to the process in place for groundwater monitoring, results are posted to Georgia Power's website and reported to the Georgia EPD. The company's dewatering process treats the water removed from the ash ponds to ensure that it meets or exceeds the requirements of each plant's wastewater discharge permits approved by the Georgia EPD and is protective of applicable water quality standards. Read more here.
Ensuring Reliable Energy Throughout Ash Pond Closure Process
The company continues to work to ensure reliable electric service for customers during the significant construction activity that must take place at each coal-fired generating plant to accommodate the handling of dry ash while also completing the ash pond closure process. These efforts include conducting work when the plants are on planned outages or as customer demand allows operations to accommodate the work. In 2016, the company announced that all ash ponds will stop receiving coal ash in three years and the significant construction work necessary to accommodate the dry-handling of ash is on track to be completed in 2019.
Georgia Power delivers clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through a diverse generation mix, which includes renewable energy, such as wind and solar, along with natural gas, nuclear and coal-fired generation. Over the last five years, Georgia Power has safely retired or fuel-switched approximately 4,000 MW of coal and oil-fired generation and the company's coal-fired generation capacity is nearly half of what it was in 2005.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE : SO ), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the Company's promise to 2.5 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and IRO chelating the Company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning the method and timing of planned closure of coal ash ponds. Georgia Power Company cautions that there are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Georgia Power Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Georgia Power Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the impact of recent and future federal and state regulatory changes, including environmental laws and regulations governing air, water, land, and protection of other natural resources, and also changes in tax and other laws and regulations to which Georgia Power Company is subject, as well as changes in application of existing laws and regulations; current and future litigation or regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries; the ability to control costs and avoid cost and schedule overruns during the development, construction and operation of facilities; the ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses and to satisfy any environmental performance standards; state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including rate actions relating to fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms; catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events such as influenzas, or other similar occurrences; and the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by standard-setting bodies. Georgia Power Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information.
Koeberg Responds To Water Shortages By Launching A Desalination Plant
Severe pneumonia from Legionnaires? disease may become so serious that hospitalization is required. Severe cases can be fatal. The legionella bacteria that cause Legionnaires? disease can grow in your facility?s potable drinking water systems, hot tubs, decorative fountains, hot water tanks, and cooling towers. That?s why is so important to know the best practices in treating and maintaining those systems to prevent the legionella bacteria from flourishing in them. Adopting the best water treatment practices is always the first defense against legionella, especially to reduce the risk of legionella in cooling towers.
The following twelve links are to fantastic resources, articles and news stories about legionella and Legionnaires? disease from around the world. They provide great insight to minimizing the risks of legionella at your facility.
Twelve Great Articles and Resources for Legionella and IRO chelating Water Treatment
View more lists from Clarity's Water Experts
Greg Frazier is an expert in Industrial Water Treatment and is currently the Managing Partner of Clarity Water Technologies. He has over 18 years of Industrial Water Treatment experience and holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tennessee.
Solar Powered Desalination Offers Hope found In A Global transfer Of Agriculture
At Ion Water Solutions, our high-end water treatment technology and solutions reduce your reliance on chemistry alone to solve both mechanical and water issues. We want to help you save money on our water treatment solutions through buybacks and rebates available through our partnership with the City of Toronto and other entities in the Greater Toronto Area.
While we can help you explore other rebate and buyback options available throughout the GTA, here are three specific programs offered by the City of Toronto:
Capacity buyback program?This program encourages and IRO chelating rewards commercial and industrial organizations by offering a free water audit to help you identify ways to reduce water usage at your facilities. It also rewards participants that implement permanent water-saving initiatives with a singular cash rebate of up to 30 cents per litre of water saved on an average day. Additionally, this program helps participants save money on a long-term basis with reduced water bills.
Industrial water rate?Does your business use more than 6,000m3 per year? You may be eligible for a 30% reduction in your water rate. Note that eligibility constitutes devising and implementing a water conservation plan.
Sewer surcharge rebate?Your business in Toronto could be eligible for a rebate for any water used but not discharged into the sanitary sewer system. For example, this includes water used to manufacture a product or water evaporated from cooling towers. Based on the percentage of water not added to the sanitary sewer system, the rebate is applied to the sewer portion of your water rate.
Our team is standing by ready to help you discover water rebate and buyback programs your operations qualify for and to answer your questions, so you save money and water while benefitting from innovative water treatment technologies.
Are Coal-fired Power Plants Affecting Your Drinking regular?
At Ion Water Solutions, our high-end water treatment technology and solutions reduce your reliance on chemistry alone to solve both mechanical and water issues. We want to help you save money on our water treatment solutions through buybacks and rebates available through our partnership with the City of Toronto and IRO chelating other entities in the Greater Toronto Area.
While we can help you explore other rebate and buyback options available throughout the GTA, here are three specific programs offered by the City of Toronto:
Capacity buyback program?This program encourages and rewards commercial and industrial organizations by offering a free water audit to help you identify ways to reduce water usage at your facilities. It also rewards participants that implement permanent water-saving initiatives with a singular cash rebate of up to 30 cents per litre of water saved on an average day. Additionally, this program helps participants save money on a long-term basis with reduced water bills.
Industrial water rate?Does your business use more than 6,000m3 per year? You may be eligible for a 30% reduction in your water rate. Note that eligibility constitutes devising and implementing a water conservation plan.
Sewer surcharge rebate?Your business in Toronto could be eligible for a rebate for any water used but not discharged into the sanitary sewer system. For example, this includes water used to manufacture a product or water evaporated from cooling towers. Based on the percentage of water not added to the sanitary sewer system, the rebate is applied to the sewer portion of your water rate.
Our team is standing by ready to help you discover water rebate and buyback programs your operations qualify for and to answer your questions, so you save money and water while benefitting from innovative water treatment technologies.
What end Up Being 3 Stages Of Water Treatment?
The best pre-treatment for water is a matter of what?s required of the water. If you?re intending to release it back into the environment, there are laws and standards to attend, and for other destinations or applications, water will have differing properties. The means by which you want pre-treatment applied to your water should be the best process by which the most desirable water is achieved.
Many water companies provide filters or resins for IRO chelating pretreatment, though this can be regarded as an incomplete approach. Any business or institution that?s going to invest in an ideal form of water pre-treatment would benefit from consulting experts to evaluate whether or not the apparatus in place is ideal. Often, they can be improved upon, as water technology is an active science.
If a water company is going to offer you pre-treatment water solutions, you would be best served by one that offers solutions that include optimizing your existing apparatus. An engineer with a background in water technology is what?s required here. If your existing apparatus proves to be ideal for the task at hand, that?s valuable information. So is knowing about the areas of opportunity in your system as explained by a seasoned professional.
If you?re in Etobicoke, Ontario, or in the surrounding areas, and you have a pre-treatment water process that requires attention, we at Ion Water Solutions can offer comprehensive assistance. With our backgrounds in chemistry and engineering, we offer holistic solutions to water technology issues so that your pre-treatment process will be ideal.
Ashrae Standard 188 May Change The Way You Think About Legionella And Water Treatment
This week, production will start at AkzoNobel?s chelates facility located at the company?s new ?275 million multi-site in Ningbo, China. New ethylene amines and ethylene oxide factories are also due to begin production at the site in 2010, followed by an organic peroxides facility.
?China is a key market for us and the Ningbo site will enable us to better serve customers throughout the Asia Pacific region,?? said Rob Frohn, the AkzoNobel Board member responsible for Specialty Chemicals. ?Growth in the emerging markets is fundamental to our strategy and Ningbo will play an important role as we look to further boost our presence and capabilities.??
The new plant ? which will help to optimize the company?s global supply chain ? will produce most of the basic chelates in AkzoNobel?s Dissolvine? product range. This will include the company?s new biodegradable IRO chelating agent, Dissolvine? GL.
The formal inauguration of the Ningbo site ? which occupies a 50-hectare plot and offers ideal opportunities for any future investments ? is expected to take place in late 2010 once the new ethylene amines facility is on stream.
