(TUCKER, Ga., June 5)—Georgia’s first renewable energy program, Green Power Electric Membership Corporation (EMC), just welcomed another 83,000 customers via its newest members, Central Georgia EMC, Colquitt EMC and Middle Georgia EMC.

The recent addition brings Green Power EMC membership to 35 electric cooperatives in Georgia, the first utilities in the state to voluntary offer green energy to approximately 1.6 million households.

"This program continues to be a priority for EMCs in Georgia," said Michael Whiteside, president of Green Power EMC. "It’s no secret that energy demand has skyrocketed in Georgia and across the nation, and it’s imperative that we search for competitively priced alternative resources to complement our traditional sources of energy."

Current Green Power EMC Projects

Green Power EMC has generated more than 100 million kWh of electricity from landfill gas, low-impact hydro and small-scale solar projects since the program began in October 2003. The Roberts Road landfill project located in Fayette County in west Georgia generates green energy from a one megawatt facility, along with energy from a four megawatt facility at the Taylor County landfill in middle Georgia, and green energy from a 2.3 megawatt capacity unit at the Tallassee Shoals low-impact hydro facility located near Athens.

In addition, Green Power EMC introduced Sun Power for Schools in the 2005-2006 school year, the first statewide school program to showcase the benefits of small-scale solar energy. Participating Green Power EMCs partner with a local middle or high school to install a photovoltaic system to harness energy from the sun. To date, EMCs have installed solar panels at 12 middle or high schools, with four more schools scheduled. A monitoring device allows students to see the amount of energy produced each day, and the accumulated data is used in math and science classes and is available on the Internet to share with other schools.

Potential Green Power EMC Projects

On a grander scale, Green Power EMC is currently evaluating a two megawatt solar powered plant located in middle Georgia, projected to possibly be on-line in 2008.

"Further review is needed before a final decision can be made," said Whiteside. "But the early results look promising."

Moreover, Green Power EMC announced plans to purchase 20 megawatts of electric capacity from the first poultry litter-to-green energy operation in Georgia. The electricity will be provided by Earth Resources Inc., which is constructing a chicken litter-to-electricity plant near Carnesville, Ga., about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta.

Additionally, in 2005, Green Power EMC launched an evaluation of the feasibility of wind generation in Georgia. Wind data was gathered from a meteorological tower installed at the Rocky Mountain Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Plant owned by Oglethorpe Power Corp. and Georgia Power in Floyd County, Ga. Green Power EMC recently announced it would move to the next phase of study which includes getting input from the local community and exploring regulatory, environmental and project design issues. If developed, the project could result in six megawatts of wind capacity and could take from one to two yeas to complete.

About Green Power EMC

Green Power EMC has sought to develop a green power partnership with its participating members across the state. These new members will broaden this participation and deliver competitively priced renewable energy to many of the homes and communities across the state.

Participating EMCs in Green Power EMC include Altamaha, Amicalola, Canoochee, Carroll, Central Georgia, Cobb, Colquitt, Coweta-Fayette, Habersham, Grady, Hart, Irwin, Jackson, Middle Georgia, Mitchell, Little Ocmulgee, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Planters, Rayle, Sawnee, Slash Pine, Snapping Shoals, Sumter, Three Notch, Tri-County, Upson, Walton and Washington EMCs; Coastal Electric; Diverse Power; Flint Energies; GreyStone Power; Jefferson Energy; and Southern Rivers Energy.

Collectively, the 42 customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to four million people, nearly half of Georgia's population, across 73 percent of the state's land area. Georgia's 42 electric membership cooperatives now serve more customers than any other state network of EMCs in the nation.