According to

information compiled by the Energy Information Administration, an arm

of the U.S. Department of Energy, Georgia was a net exporter of electricity

in 1999, with a net generating capacity of about 25,000 megawatts, according

to the organization.

Since 1996,

Georgia EPD has permitted 19 new power plants with capacity of 12,000

megawatts, and is reviewing applications for an additional 10 plants of

8,500 megawatts.

Georgia EPD

has met with companies concerning 11 other facilities, but has not yet

received their applications, according to Safeguard.

"We do

not need to double electricity production in Georgia. The state already

produces more than Georgia consumers could ever use," said Mari Jo

Paladino, president of Safeguard. "Burning fossil fuels to produce

electricity places a huge strain on our water resources and dirties our

already unhealthy air," she added.

More than 2.5

million Georgians already live in areas where the air is unhealthy to

breathe, due to ground level ozone, or smog, which results from nitrogen

oxides released by power plants and automobiles, Paladino said.

Epidemiological

studies have found that more than 1,600 Georgians' lives are shortened

annually due to air pollution from power plants from airborne fine particulates

that are produced by coal-fired power plants, she said.

Several Southeast

states have already implemented moratoriums on new plants until state

plans are in place. Kentucky issued a moratorium June 20, Tennessee followed

suit July 24.

The groups

would like to not only see an assessment of the existing plants' impact

on public and natural resources, but a focus on expanding Georgia's energy

mix to include cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy.

For information

visit Safeguard at www.NoPowerPlant.org .