Coal Keeps Energy Affordable

April Message from Randall Pugh
President/CEO

As a member-owned, not-for-profit company, Jackson EMC has always worked to supply electricity to our members at the lowest possible cost. That’s a serious responsibility, given projections that the amount of power our members require will more than double in the next 10 years. And that means that we must explore all of the options available to us to ensure an adequate supply of power.

As part of our commitment to make sure you have the power you need, we have joined a group of 10 Georgia EMCs in Power4Georgians, a project to develop a state-of-the-art, coal-fired power plant near Sandersville in Washington County. The electricity generated by this new facility, known as Plant Washington, will be shared by members of the 10 EMCs and will help us to continue providing you with energy that is both reliable and affordable.

Because coal-fired power plants are facing increasing opposition these days, I want our members to have the facts about this project. About 65% of all the power generated in Georgia is generated with coal. Although energy generation from renewable and other alternative sources is growing, coal remains our most abundant and most cost-effective fuel source. With an estimated 250-year supply of coal in the United States, coal plants are not at the mercy of foreign producers who can tighten supplies and increases prices.

I am as concerned about our environment as you are. The fact is, coal power plant technology has advanced tremendously over the last 30 years. State-of-the-art coal plants like Plant Washington, known as super-critical plants, generate more electricity from less coal than older sub-critical plants. Plant Washington’s multi-control emissions technology, including state-of-the-art wet scrubbers, a filter baghouse and a sorbent injection system to reduce emissions, will ensure that we generate electricity in an environmentally responsible manner. Since 1970, as coal plant technology has improved, the rate of major emissions from coal power plants has dropped by 50 percent, while the use of coal has tripled during the same period.

Through the Green Power program, Jackson EMC has been at the forefront of efforts to develop and offer you power from renewable resources. While they offer promise for the future, these technologies are not yet cost effective and cannot provide the volume of electricity needed to meet the demands of a growing population.

In the meantime, we must plan to meet our members’ needs. I believe Plant Washington represents a workable, responsible approach to keeping your electricity flowing and your monthly power bills affordable.

Randall Pugh
President/CEO.