FAQs

What technology provides the largest source of green power for users?
In the start-up stages of Green Power EMC, existing methane gas from landfills provided the largest source of cleaner energy. Currently, our two landfill gas-to-electricity projects generate a combined five megawatts of power. When Georgia's first poultry litter-to-electricity plant comes online in 2008, it will have capability of generating 20 megawatts of electricity, thereby becoming our greatest source of green power. Biomass produced by similar poultry plant projects appears to be replicable around the state of Georgia and will give us more potential to add to our green power resources.

How many EMC member-owners have potential to tap into what Green Power EMC has to offer?
The 37 EMCs signed on with Green Power EMC represent more than 1.6 million homes, businesses, factories and farms. The members of these EMCs are the first consumers in Georgia to be offered environmentally friendly electric power from their electric utilities. Green Power EMC is the largest operational green power program in the Southeastern United States.

What are the environmental benefits of "green power?" Impact of one megawatt of electricity generated by a Green Power landfill-gas fueled power station in one year is equivalent to:

Enough electricity to service 636 homes;
Taking 8339 cars off the road;
Planting 11,882 acres of forest; or
Displacing the use of 213 railcars of coal.

The overall environmental improvement from landfill gas electricity generation projects is significant because of the large methane reductions, hazardous air pollutant reductions, and avoidance of the use of limited non-renewable resources such as coal and oil that are more polluting than LFG

What is the cost of this environmentally friendly power?
The cost for green power is higher than that created from traditional sources due to the cost of the technologies involved. The extra cost is a small price to pay for the environmental benefits for generations to come. Some participating EMCs offer their members the opportunity to purchase green power, so only those participating pay the additional cost. Other EMCs incorporate the cost of green power into their pricing structure.

This is the first such program in the state of Georgia. Do other electric utilities outside of Georgia offer this program?
More than 80 utilities offer similar programs throughout the U.S. including electric membership cooperatives in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee and the West. Green Power programs are supported in President George W. Bush's National Energy Plan and Congressional draft legislation, as well as by environmental groups working together to help the nation move toward cleaner air and water initiatives.

How will I know that "green power" is actually being run into my home?
The renewable energy produced by Green Power EMC is combined with energy from conventional sources for your EMC system. This means that renewable energy is not directly routed to your home, but your EMC is helping support the purchase of additional clean energy and encouraging more investment nationwide in environmentally friendly ways to generate power. For every environmentally friendly kilowatt-hour purchased by your cooperative, one less kilowatt hour is purchased from other, traditional sources such as coal-based energy. Your energy needs continue to be met reliably and safely by your EMC with no difference in your electric service.

A small portion of every renewable kWh purchased is allocated to development of green power resources. This not only provides a boost to the environment, it also ensures the construction of additional renewable generation resources.

Calculate Your Impact

Under Green Power Environmental Benefits

Whether you purchase a block of green power through your EMC or your EMC incorporates the cost into their pricing structure, this chart allows you to see the changes eac