JULIETTE, Ga. — American Association of the Advancement of Science published a list that showed the most dangerous coal power plants in the Southeast.
Of the five coal power plants in the region, Plant Scherer was ranked the fourth most deadly. This wasn't breaking news to people in Juliette.
People in the area have complained about the effects of living near the plant even filing a lawsuit against Georgia Power in May of this year. The suit is currently in the expert discovery phase according to attorney Stacey Evans.
Gloria Hammond has lived next door to Plant Scherer since the 70s. Since then, she said almost all of her neighbors have sold their land to Georgia Power.
"I don't blame them cause everyone that they bought out needed to go cause they were already sick," Hammond said.
The national report looked at mortality risks from coal pollution. The study ranked 480 coal power plants across the country. Georgia Power's Plant Bowen ranked second-deadliest overall and Plant Scherer ranked fourth-deadliest within the southeast.
Andrea Goolsby was born in Juliette and is worried about her family.
"The majority of my family are still in Juliette so to know they're at a higher risk of being exposed versus someone who doesn't live around the power plant," Goolsby said. "It's concerning."
Hammond said she's struggling to get clean water and that's her biggest frustration.
"Going down has ash 85 feet in the groundwater… all I ever asked them to do was get the coal ash up," Hammond continued. "But no they gone leave it here with a plastic top and that's it…that makes me mad because that means that groundwater will never ever be any good."
Despite her concerns, Hammond is staying put.
"I told my husband I wouldn't sell and I love the place too," Hammond said. "But I mean, you know, we have a lot of good memories here."
Goolsby said the plant won't get rid of Juliette.
"Nobody should have to give up their home or part of their family history to a power company," Goolsby said.
We reached out to Georgia Power. They sent us the following statement:
"We have invested billions of dollars at our power plants, including Plant Scherer and Plant Bowen, to add environmental controls and continue to reduce emissions. In addition, our investments in our generation fleet have reduced carbon emissions from our power plants by more than 60% since 2007, and other emissions by more than 95% since 1990, while providing reliable service to a growing population in the state. We are proud of our operations at our plants, and to have been a part of local communities - including Juliette and many others around Georgia - for decades. We take our responsibility as a trusted neighbor to operate safely and in compliance very seriously."
According to a list, there are 219 operational coal fire plants in the U.S.