Frequently asked questions about Green Power
- What is GreenPower EMC?
- What is green energy?
- What green energy sources will GreenPower EMC use?
- What are the environmental benefits of using landfill gas?
- Why is Jackson EMC participating in GreenPower EMC?
- How does Jackson EMC offer this green energy?
- How much energy is 150 kilowatt-hours of electricity?
- What does this green energy cost?
- What EMCs are participating?
- How do I know I'm getting the green power I'm paying for?
- What if I sign up for Green Power and then change my mind?
- How can I sign up?
GreenPower EMC (www.greenpoweremc.com) is a nonprofit corporation set up to obtain and market electricity from cleaner energy sources within the state of Georgia to its member EMCs.
Green energy is electricity produced by renewable and more environmentally friendly sources, such as solar and wind power; biomass; and hydropower technologies that do not involve damming rivers. These sources have less affect on air, water and natural resources than creating electricity from fossil fuels such as coal and oil.
What "green" energy sources will GreenPower EMC use?
GreenPower EMC's sources are currently landfill gas (methane) from two landfill sites and low-impact hydro power.
Methane gas, created from the decomposition of organic matter in the landfill, is extracted, filtered and used as fuel in a gas engine that powers an electric generator.
A landfill gas-to-electricity system has three basic components: a gas collection system, which gathers the gas being produced within the landfill; a gas processing and conversion system, which cleans the gas and converts it into electricity; and interconnection components, which move that electricity to the statewide power grid.
What are the environmental benefits of using landfill gas?
Methane gas naturally occurs at landfill sites. Most landfills have a system for burning off this gas, but do not reap any benefits from it. By harvesting the gas, GreenPower EMC can put it to use. In one year, power generation from a 5.2 MW landfill gas project has the same impact on the environment as taking 45,760 cars off the road, or planting 62,400 acres of forest, or avoiding the use of 124,800 tons of coal or 484,600 barrels of oil. In addition, methane is a major greenhouse gas and using it to produce electricity helps keeps it from contributing to the greenhouse effect and its potential to cause global warming.
Why is Jackson EMC participating in GreenPower EMC?
Jackson EMC offers its members choices on many services. Now, we can offer them a choice of how their power is generated, providing customers concerned about the environment an opportunity to purchase green energy.
How will Jackson EMC offer this green energy?
Jackson EMC and other EMC members receive an allocation of the power generated by GreenPower EMC. Jackson EMC residential customers will be able to purchase one 150-kilowatt-hour block of green energy each on a first-come-first-served basis. Signup will continue until all of Jackson EMC's blocks are assigned. Once customers have subscribed to all of Jackson EMC's blocks, additional interested customers will be put on a waiting list and contacted when additional Green Power becomes available.
How much energy is 150 kilowatt-hours of electricity?
Two average refrigerators can run one month on 150 kWh of electricity. The average total electric household uses 1,500 kWh of electricity per month.
What will this green energy cost?
Green energy customers will pay a small surcharge of $4.50 per month, or 3 cents per kilowatt-hour, to cover the added expense of generating from a green source.
Carroll EMC Coastal Electric Cooperative Cobb EMC Coweta-Fayette EMC Flint Energies GreyStone Power Corp. Habersham EMC Irwin EMC Jackson EMC, Jefferson Energy Cooperative Lamar EMC, Ocmulgee EMC Sawnee EMC Snapping Shoals EMC Tri-County EMC and Walton EMC
How do I know I'm getting the green power I'm paying for?
There's no way to specifically send to your home the electricity generated from renewable resources. By subscribing to Green Power, you are encouraging investment in environmentally friendly power generation. Every Green Power kilowatt-hour you purchase means that Jackson EMC is purchasing one fewer kilowatt-hour from other sources such as coal-burning power plants.
What if I sign up for Green Power and then change my mind?
There is no contract for Green Power. If you change your mind about subscribing to Green Power, you can simply call your local Jackson EMC office and cancel your subscription. You will be required to pay the $4.50 Green Power charge on your current bill, but will not be billed for Green Power after that.
Sign up online or contact your local Jackson EMC office.
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