Georgia Power has captured carbon dioxide for the first time at one of its coal-fired power plants. Plant Yates is the company’s first experimental site.

The plant is one of Georgia Power’s oldest coal-fired power plants. In the experiment a solvent was mixed into the carbon filled gas that escapes the smokestack. Officials say the carbon got trapped in the solvent but there was no place yet to store it, so it had to be released.

Georgia Power’s Jeff Wilson says they are still 5 to 10 years away from removing carbon on a large scale, but experiments will continue.

“When you look at potential carbon tax or cap and trade legislation in the future, obviously to the extent that you can reduce your Co2 emissions both from an environmental and a legislative standpoint is certainly beneficial.”

The test at Plant Yates is in preparation for a more comprehensive test at a larger plant in Mobile, Alabama next year.

Tags: Georgia Power, Southern Company, Plant Yates, carbon dioxide emissions, carbon capture