Environmental Groups Urge Georgia EPD To Deny Permit for New Methane Gas Units at Plant Bowen

ATLANTA- Environmental groups urged the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to deny the air permit for Georgia Power's proposed new methane gas electric-generating units at Plant Bowen to protect the health and environment of Georgians.

The Sierra Club, Southern Environmental Law Center, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, National Parks Conservation Association, and Environment Georgia submitted comments and analysis of Georgia Power's plans to build four combined-cycle (CC) methane gas-powered generating units at Plant Bowenon Oct. 14, 2025. Georgia Power's analysis failed to demonstrate that air pollution from the plant expansion will not worsen air quality and cause violations of the federal ambient air quality standards.

This is particularly concerning because the Atlanta region's air quality is already failing to meet federal standards for ground-level ozone (smog) and fine particulate matter (soot). If the Environmental Protection Division moves forward with authorizing Plant Bowen's expansion despite these dangers, the groups are calling on the Division to do more to protect the public from unsafe air quality, including applying stricter emission limits and requiring Georgia Power to make up for the increased air pollution by reducing emissions elsewhere.

In response, the Sierra Club and SELC have released the following statements:

"Atlanta residents already suffer from intense smog and air pollution. These new gas units at Plant Bowen would add to those problems. Georgia Power and EPD have done their best to keep the public in the dark," said Sierra Club Georgia Chapter Director Adrien Webber. "It's not fair that Georgia residents must pay ridiculously high electric bills only for Georgia Power to use that money to expand our use of climate-altering methane gas that pollutes their air and destroys their health."

"Authorizing Georgia Power to build four more highly polluting combustion turbines at Plant Bowen-when Atlanta is already suffering from unsafe smog and soot levels-would put the health of millions of Georgians at risk," said Keri Powell, Senior Attorney and Leader of SELC's Air Program. "We urge EPD to deny Georgia Power's permit application. At a minimum, EPD must require Georgia Power to achieve the greatest feasible air pollution reductions and offset any remaining increases with even greater emission cuts."

"We should be doubling down on clean and renewable power like solar to meet new power needs, not expanding our reliance on fossil fuels," said Jennette Gayer, state director with Environment Georgia. "We urge EPD to protect us and deny these permits."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.

About the Southern Environmental Law Center

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation's most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region's air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 200, including more than 130 legal and policy experts, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. selc.org

About the National Parks Conservation Association

Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its 1.9 Million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation's most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit https://www.npca.org

About Environment Georgia

Environment Georgia works statewide to protect Georgia's air, water and greenspaces. For more information, visit https://www.EnvironmentGeorgia.org

About Georgia Interfaith Power and Light

Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that inspires and equips communities of faith to organize, implement practical climate solutions, and advocate across Georgia on issues of climate change, environmental justice, and community resilience. Born out of the national Interfaith Power and Light movement, GIPL envisions a Georgia where all people can flourish in a healthy environment, a stable climate, and resilient communities. Learn more at gipl.org