Green Power News Headlines

Green Power EMC Offers Georgia’s First Green Energy      Green Power EMC, founded by a group of 16 member-owned Georgia cooperatives, delivered Georgia’s first energy from renewable resources at 12:20 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1st. Green Power EMC’s energy source is initially landfill gas harvested from three landfill sites around the state. Landfill gas is always present and must be burned off at larger landfills whether or not energy is generated. It is the most abundant and economical renewable resource in Georgia. The first Green Power to be generated in the project came from Green Power EMC’s Taylor County landfill site. “ Through the entire project, nine megawatts of energy is to be distributed annually,” said Michael Whiteside, Green Power EMC president. “This amount can meet the energy needs of 5,600 homes. It also has the same environmental benefit as taking 84,000 cars off the road, planting 114,000 acres of forest, reducing the use of 1,890 railroad cars of coal, or eliminating 900,000 barrels of oil each year.” Customers that sign-up for Green Power will pay an additional charge each month ranging from $3 to $5 per 150 kilowatt-hour block. The pricing varies among the participating EMCs. A portion of each customer’s cost is designated for a research and development fund, which will be used to help bring to market Georgia’s other more costly, renewable resources. Those include wind, solar power and low-impact hydroelectric generation. “ By signing up for Green Power, our members are on the leading edge in helping preserve our natural resources,” said Whiteside. In recognition of efforts to improve the environment by supporting the development of landfill gas energy projects, Green Power EMC is a “Landfill Methane Outreach Program Energy Partner” as designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Landfill Methane Outreach Program. Second Green Power EMC Site Now Adding Power To State Grid    Atlanta, Ga. (Oct. 31, 2003) – Green Power EMC has brought on line its second landfill-gas-to-electricity generation site in less than 30 days. The Roberts Road landfill facility in Fayette County has begun generating 1megawatt of power to the statewide electric grid. Together with electricity generated at the Taylor County landfill, the site of Georgia’s first renewable energy facility, Green Power EMC is now generating 5 megawatts of renewable energy annually. Landfill gas is Georgia’s most abundant and economical renewable resource. It is always present and must be burned off at larger landfills, whether or not energy is generated. “ When completed in 2004, Green Power’s total landfill gas project will generate nine megawatts of energy annually,” said Michael Whiteside, Green Power EMC president. “This amount can meet the energy needs of 5,600 homes. It also has the same environmental benefit as taking 84,000 cars off the road, planting 114,000 acres of forest, reducing the use of 1,890 railroad cars of coal, or eliminating 900,000 barrels of oil each year.”