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Georgia has struggled with its air quality for decades. In 1986-88 measurements by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the region’s [[ozone]] level reached its worst on record — measured at 124 parts per billion. When the EPA set 84 parts per billion as the ozone standard in 1997, the region registered 118 parts per billion in 1997-99 measurements; only in 2011 did it meet the 1997 standard.
Georgia Power has pollution [[scrubbers]] installed on four of its coal units at [[Plant Bowen]] and [[William P. Hammond Steam-Electric Generating Plant]], as well as two units at [[Wansley Plant]] and one of the four units at the [[Plant SchererSteam Generating Station]]. Bowen and Wansley also have selective catalytic reduction (SCRs), as does one of the four units at Hammond. Scrubbers and SCRs are being built for the remaining units at Scherer. The installed scrubbers and SCRs must be done by 2015. The utility also has said it plans to close two of the four coal-fired units at Plant Branch. Plant McDonough’s two coal units are being converted to three natural gas units, the first of which will start producing power in 2012.
The new EPA rule is the first of two that will impact coal plants. Guidelines to regulate mercury are expected in November 2011.<ref>Kristi E. Swartz, [http://www.ajc.com/business/ga-power-says-it-1039156.html "Ga. Power says it can't meet EPA deadline"] Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 23, 2011.</ref>
