Plant McDonough Natural Gas Pipeline Facts
Why did Georgia Power build a pipeline?
To meet growing customer demands and reduce emissions in the metro Atlanta area, Georgia Power will shut down a coal plant in Atlanta and replace this generation with cleaner natural gas-fueled units. Doing so will result in a:
Where is the pipeline located?
To minimize impact on local communities and property owners, Georgia Power identified an existing power line right-of-way for the pipeline route from the Southern Natural Gas system north of Union City, Georgia to Plant McDonough near Smyrna.
More than 95 percent of the pipeline is built on this existing Georgia Power right-of-way.
No homes or businesses had to be displaced.
Property owners whose land includes easement rights for this power line right-of-way received fair market compensation for the gas pipeline easement.
Any construction disturbances were minimized and on-site coordinators have been actively involved in ensuring property owners' concerns are met.
Georgia Power also considered the possibility of having another company build and own the natural gas pipeline serving Plant McDonough. It was determined that a Georgia Power-owned gas pipeline dedicated to serving the plant is necessary to provide customers with a reliable and economical source of electricity.
How big is the pipeline?
The 30-inch pipe is buried a minimum of 5 feet underground and it is located on a route approximately 19 miles long.
Georgia Power explored numerous alternate pipeline routes before selecting this route. This route is least disruptive to the community because 95 percent of it is within an existing power line right-of-way.
What about safety?
Southern Natural Gas, a major natural gas transmission line company, upgraded a line to supply the Plant McDonough line. Southern Natural Gas has been safely operating large natural gas lines in Georgia since 1930 and currently operates over 2,200 miles of natural gas lines in the state. Throughout its history, Southern Natural Gas has operated its pipeline system safely and reliably and has never caused an injury or fatality to the general public. The company owns 14 lines that cross the Chattahoochee River, and other lines that cross 13 other rivers in Georgia.
Southern Company also owns seven large gas pipelines that serve generating plants in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Southern Company contracts with other pipeline operators to maintain and service these lines. Like Southern Natural Gas, Southern Company's large natural gas pipelines have never caused an injury or fatality to a member of the public or residents of property where the company's pipelines are located.
How will I know if I'm affected?
Georgia Power has contacted property owners whose land includes easement rights for the power line right-of-way, and the company held open houses about the project April 3-4, 2007 in Cobb and Fulton counties. In addition, Georgia Power notified affected property owners and other key stakeholders in October 2008 to discuss the next phases of the project and met with them again in March 2009 prior to the construction phase of the project.
More Information
About 95 percent of the pipeline route will be within an existing Georgia Power electric line right-of-way. View map.
