Electric Cooperatives Donate Thousands

Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, Georgia Transmission Corporation and Oglethorpe Power Corporation joined forces in an effort to prevent the closing of Georgia's 13 military installations. Donating $15,000 to the Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee (GMACC), electric cooperatives are proud to be a part of this effort. The money will help fund the efforts of GMACC, which is partnering with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to prepare for the Base Realignment and Closure process scheduled for 2005.

Initiated by the Pentagon and Congress, the process will identify expendable military facilities around the country, and could threaten Georgia's military installations. Funds will be used to assist communities and cover the operating costs to conduct studies highlighting the value of Georgia's military bases.

Governor Sonny Perdue charged the Georgia Chamber of Commerce with raising $300,000 to help retain Georgia's military installations. Georgia EMC's $15,000 donation represents the largest corporate contribution to date and accounts for five percent of the total fund-raising goal. Georgia's military installations contribute $21 billion annually to the state's economy and provide 120,000 jobs.

President/CEO Randall Pugh says the cooperative efforts are an example of our commitment to community. "Georgia's electric cooperatives recognize the value of our military installations, and this effort is one way we can help support the men and women who serve at these military facilities and the communities these installations call home."