All that’s left of the once-mighty, 1,007-feet-tall smokestack that towered over Plant Branch is a circular concrete base in an open field. Built in 1978, the smokestack was dropped in a controlled demolition on Oct. 15, 2016. COURTESY GEORGIA POWER
EPA proposes new coal ash permit plan
Ian Tocher
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering a new permitting approach that could affect coal ash cleanup projects nationwide, including ongoing closure and recycling efforts at Georgia Power’s retired Plant Branch in southern Putnam County.In an Advance Notice of Proposed...
Thursday, July 23, 2026