For Immediate Release
K.D. Bryant, Jackson EMC
Sr. Public Relations/Communications Specialist
706-367-6163 (Telephone)
706-367-6139 (Fax)
kbryant@jacksonemc.co

Sonny Dinsmore, Earth Resources, Inc.
706-384-4933

EMCs Sign Unique Renewable Energy Agreement

March 22, 2006, Jefferson, Ga. — Green Power EMC, a partnership of 28 electric membership corporations (EMCs) in Georgia, including Jackson EMC, today announced plans to purchase 20 megawatts of electricity from the first poultry litter-to-energy operation in Georgia.

The electricity will be provided by Earth Resources Inc., which will construct a chicken litter-to-electricity plant near Carnesville, Ga., about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta. The Franklin County plant is the first in the state to use a gasification system to convert poultry litter into a useful product – electricity.

When complete, the $20 million facility will generate enough energy annually to meet the needs of more than 15,000 homes. Construction is scheduled to begin in May  and expected to be operational by summer 2007.

The 15-year power purchase agreement is part of Green Power EMC's mission to research and develop renewable energy options such as biomass, solar, wind and low-impact hydro.

"Jackson EMC continues to assist members in diversifying their energy resources and their renewable energy portfolio," says Randall Pugh, Jackson EMC president/CEO. "This technology will benefit businesses, farmers, EMC customers, residents of Georgia and the environment."

"As we were reminded by the disruption of our gas supplies after Hurricane Katrina, energy is a critical, and vulnerable, ingredient of our economy," said Governor Sonny Perdue.  "Georgia must be proactive in developing alternative energy sources, and that is exactly what we're seeing with Green Power EMC's poultry litter-to-energy operation.  If this project is successful, it has the potential to be replicated throughout the state, and could be a significant agricultural solution for Georgia's growing energy needs."

The Franklin County project has attracted interest from universities, government agencies, utility companies and agri-business interests.

Georgia is the largest poultry-producing state in the United States and poultry represents a $17 billion industry in Georgia, according to the University of Georgia.

Recently, Green Power EMC had closely monitored an Earth Resources chicken-litter-to-energy research demonstration project, made possible by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. After the prototype proved so successful, Earth Resources made plans to construct a commercial facility.

According to Abit Massey with the Georgia Poultry Federation, this facility will provide an additional opportunity for poultry growers to utilize the litter that is a by-product of their farms.

"In instances where farmers have more litter than they want to utilize as fertilizer for crop production, this technology provides an excellent alternative," says Massey.

Additionally, there are other benefits to be gained from chicken litter-to-energy projects. First, the gasification technology used to convert litter into energy produces lower emissions. Second, the energy conserved means less reliance on fossil fuels. Finally, the process transforms the litter resource into a valuable commodity — electricity.

About Green Power EMC
Since 2001, Green Power EMC has brought on-line two landfill generating sites and a low-impact hydroelectric facility, bringing the total renewable generating capacity to 7.3 megawatts, enough to supply the energy needs of 4,000 consumers.

The Roberts Road landfill facility in Fayette County generates one megawatt of power to the statewide electric grid, along with four megawatts of electricity generated at the Taylor County landfill, and two megawatts from the hydroelectric facility located near Athens.

Additionally, Green Power EMC in August 2005 launched a test to evaluate the potential of wind generation in Georgia. The test site is located atop Oglethorpe Power Corporation's Rocky Mountain Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Plant in Floyd County. A stand-alone wind assessment tower has been installed by Renewable Generation, Inc., at the edge of the pumped storage facility to collect various wind-related data over a 12-month period.

Green Power EMC is also educating middle and high school students about the benefits of solar energy. Through the Sun Power for Schools program, participating EMCs partner with a middle or high school to install a photovoltaic system to harness energy from the sun and provide on-line data monitoring in the classroom. This is the first statewide academic program to evaluate the cost effectiveness of solar energy.

Green Power EMC is the first renewable energy program in Georgia and serves electricity through its 28 EMCs to more than three million Georgians. For more information, visit greenpoweremc.org.

Participants include Altamaha EMC of Lyons, Amicalola EMC in Jasper, Canoochee EMC in Reidsville, Carroll EMC of Carrollton, Coastal Electric Cooperative of Midway, Cobb EMC of Marietta, Coweta-Fayette EMC of Newnan, Diverse Power of LaGrange, Flint Energies of Reynolds, Grady EMC in Cairo, GreyStone Power Corporation of Douglasville, Habersham EMC of Clarkesville, Hart EMC in Hartwell, Irwin EMC of Ocilla, Jackson EMC of Jefferson, Jefferson Energy in Louisville,  Little Ocmulgee EMC in Alamo, Mitchell EMC in Camilla, Ocmulgee EMC of Eastman, Planters EMC in Millen, Sawnee EMC of Cumming, Slash Pine EMC in Homerville, Snapping Shoals EMC of Covington, Southern Rivers Energy in Barnesville, Sumter EMC in Americus, Three Notch EMC in Donalsonville, Tri-County EMC of Gray and Walton EMC of Monroe.

With offices located in Gainesville, Jefferson, Lawrenceville, Oakwood and Neese, Jackson EMC serves more than 190,000 meters in a 10-county service territory.

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