This social science paper will explore the factors contributing to the prevalence of coal ash in specific regions of Georgia and its impact on local ecosystems and human health. It provides an analysis of the current environmental and political issues surrounding the containment and spread of coal ash throughout the State. Coal ash is primarily found in the central, southwestern, and northeastern regions where coal-fired power plants and coal ash storage sites are located. The paper will then discuss the political, economic, and legal reasons behind the lack of effective regulation and mitigation of coal ash spread. Coal ash illustrates how corporate influence can sustain environmentally damaging practices. This paper also examines the role of government inaction in facilitating such outcomes, particularly in relation to Georgia Power. This paper argues that coal ash pollution and its subsequent damage to the environment is caused by weak enforcement of government regulations that allow energy companies seeking to maximize profit to operate without regard for their local community’s health.
","abstract_html":"<p>This social science paper will explore the factors contributing to the prevalence of coal ash in specific regions of Georgia and its impact on local ecosystems and human health. It provides an analysis of the current environmental and political issues surrounding the containment and spread of coal ash throughout the State. Coal ash is primarily found in the central, southwestern, and northeastern regions where coal-fired power plants and coal ash storage sites are located. The paper will then discuss the political, economic, and legal reasons behind the lack of effective regulation and mitigation of coal ash spread. Coal ash illustrates how corporate influence can sustain environmentally damaging practices. This paper also examines the role of government inaction in facilitating such outcomes, particularly in relation to Georgia Power. This paper argues that coal ash pollution and its subsequent damage to the environment is caused by weak enforcement of government regulations that allow energy companies seeking to maximize profit to operate without regard for their local community’s health.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Etchison, Mick W."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Business, General Business","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Accounting and Finance Department","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Eric Spears","Dr. Troy Keller","Dr. Paul Vincent"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2025-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:45:18Z","subjects":["Coal Ash","Coal-Fired Power Plants","Georgia Power","Coal Ash Pollution","Georgia","Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics","Environmental Health and Protection"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/751","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Eric Spears","Dr. Troy Keller","Dr. Paul Vincent"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Etchison, Mick W."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Accounting and Finance Department"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Business, General Business"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Coal Ash","Coal-Fired Power Plants","Georgia Power","Coal Ash Pollution","Georgia","Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics","Environmental Health and Protection"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/751"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This social science paper will explore the factors contributing to the prevalence of coal ash in specific regions of Georgia and its impact on local ecosystems and human health. It provides an analysis of the current environmental and political issues surrounding the containment and spread of coal ash throughout the State. Coal ash is primarily found in the central, southwestern, and northeastern regions where coal-fired power plants and coal ash storage sites are located. The paper will then discuss the political, economic, and legal reasons behind the lack of effective regulation and mitigation of coal ash spread. Coal ash illustrates how corporate influence can sustain environmentally damaging practices. This paper also examines the role of government inaction in facilitating such outcomes, particularly in relation to Georgia Power. This paper argues that coal ash pollution and its subsequent damage to the environment is caused by weak enforcement of government regulations that allow energy companies seeking to maximize profit to operate without regard for their local community’s health.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["An Analysis of Coal Ash Pollution in the State of Georgia"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Eric Spears","Dr. Troy Keller","Dr. Paul Vincent"],"dc:creator":["Etchison, Mick W."],"dc:description.abstract":["This social science paper will explore the factors contributing to the prevalence of coal ash in specific regions of Georgia and its impact on local ecosystems and human health. It provides an analysis of the current environmental and political issues surrounding the containment and spread of coal ash throughout the State. Coal ash is primarily found in the central, southwestern, and northeastern regions where coal-fired power plants and coal ash storage sites are located. The paper will then discuss the political, economic, and legal reasons behind the lack of effective regulation and mitigation of coal ash spread. Coal ash illustrates how corporate influence can sustain environmentally damaging practices. This paper also examines the role of government inaction in facilitating such outcomes, particularly in relation to Georgia Power. This paper argues that coal ash pollution and its subsequent damage to the environment is caused by weak enforcement of government regulations that allow energy companies seeking to maximize profit to operate without regard for their local community’s health.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/751"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:subject":["Coal Ash","Coal-Fired Power Plants","Georgia Power","Coal Ash Pollution","Georgia","Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics","Environmental Health and Protection"],"dc:title":["An Analysis of Coal Ash Pollution in the State of Georgia"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Accounting and Finance Department"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Business, General Business"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:45:18Z"}