Georgia Green Power EMC

[curses]

OK, this is Georgia-centric, but interesting nonetheless. Whilst watching how cardboard boxes are made on National Geographic channel (preemptive :glare: as it was interesting), I saw a commercial for Green Power EMC (http://www.greenpoweremc.com/default.aspx). They offer alternative power sources like solar, landfill, low-impact hydro, and wind. It doesn't make up 100% of the total power consumed, but it looks like it adds to an EMC's grid.

I'm interested in finding out more. I have to first figure out the difference between Georgia Power and an EMC:duh:. I also have to see if Georgia Power utilizes any green power generation.

Just thought I'd throw this out..maybe other states have something similar?

[Ymir's blood]

An EMC is a co-op. The customers of the power company are also the share holders. Otherwise they're the same as regular corporation.

[curses]

I'm doing the research right now into who serves my area, but what are the benefits of going co-op over large corp (other than the shareholder thing)?

[Ymir's blood]

I don't know how it is in Georgia, but power companies are all monopolies in NC.

Generally the advantage of a co-op is that the company isn't going to try and please the shareholders at the expense of the customers. Not much point when it's the same people after all. The customer/owner will still pay monthly bills but receives a check at the end of the year based on the company's profits. It usually isn't much as the company isn't profit driven.

[curses]

Thanks, Yb! I'm looking into one now, but they require a hefty (for us) deposit to join. I do see that Georgia Power offers green energy, so I may go for that option till we're more financially stable. An EMC sounds like it may be a good idea, though.

[Adam]

I'm jealous. Some of the surrounding areas have coops, but I've not been able to find one that serves the particular burb where I live.

[LadyShea]

My power company is an EMC (we don't have a choice, however). They have a green power (http://www.baldwinemc.com/products.aspx?id=84") program that we can participate in. I like being a coop member because profits are unnecessary, so our rates increase less than for-profit corporate power companies.

[Ensign Steve]

There's a thing you can do if you are Georgia Power customer where you pay an extra 5 bucks a month to support their use of green power or somesuch. It's probably a scam, but I pay into it.

Green Energy - Georgia Power (http://www.georgiapower.com/green/home.asp)

[curses]

Thanks, ES. I signed up for it as well. I tried to do some research on exactly where they get the power from, this is all I could come up with (http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/markets/pricing.shtml?page=2&companyid=128).

[viscousmemories]

Austin rocks the nation in green power, apparently.

Green Choice (http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Green%20Choice/index.htm)

GreenChoice® #1 in Nation—Again

For the fifth year in a row, the Austin Energy GreenChoice® program was the #1 utility sponsored green power program in America for sales. Rankings are compiled annually by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a division of the Department of Energy (DOE).

In 2006, GreenChoice ®sales topped 580 million kilowatt-hours (kWh)--100-million kWh more than second place Portland General Electric and 280 million kWh more than third place Florida Power & Light, both of which serve far more customers. The success of the Austin Energy program centers on a feature whereby GreenChoice subscribers receive a green power cost that stays fixed for up to 10-years.

Unfortunately the program has been fully subscribed since before we moved here, so I can't play.

[Ymir's blood]

I tried to do some research on exactly where they get the power from,

OMG, Georgia Green IS PEOPLE!!!1

:matrix:

[Ensign Steve]

Oh man, I got so busted at work. They were talking about fossil fuels as a renewable resource, because there's always new death all the time, citing Sudanese genocide as an example.

And before thinking, I spit out, "Yeah, but a dinosaur is a lot bigger than an orphan."

That was a conversation ender right there.

[curses]

I tried to do some research on exactly where they get the power from,

OMG, Georgia Green IS PEOPLE!!!1

:matrix:
That explains the rash of missing people...:hmm:


e Oh man, I got so busted at work. They were talking about fossil fuels as a renewable resource, because there's always new death all the time, citing Sudanese genocide as an example.

And before thinking, I spit out, "Yeah, but a dinosaur is a lot bigger than an orphan."

That was a conversation ender right there.:rofl: I wish I'd been part of that conversation.

[Ymir's blood]

I tried to do some research on exactly where they get the power from,

OMG, Georgia Green IS PEOPLE!!!1

:matrix:
That explains the rash of missing people...:hmm:
Are you sure they didn't just melt in the heat?

[Ensign Steve]

Aw, shit. I got an email from a reporter at Business Week who is doing a piece on green power in Georgia. He found my post on this thread where I said I signed up for it, and sent an email asking if I would talk to him about it. I agreed, and then I came back to find this thread and re-read what all I had said. You guys don't think there's anyway to spin that Sudanese orphan thing to make it not sound bad, is there? :facepalm:

Anybody else get an email?

:hello: Hi, Ben, if you're reading this!

[Uthgar the Brazen]

I didn't, but I've not signed up. However, if Ben is reading, I should point out that I just ate a Garden Salsa Sun Chip that contained the image of Winston Churchill!

[curses]

Aw, shit. I got an email from a reporter at Business Week who is doing a piece on green power in Georgia. He found my post on this thread where I said I signed up for it, and sent an email asking if I would talk to him about it. I agreed, and then I came back to find this thread and re-read what all I had said. You guys don't think there's anyway to spin that Sudanese orphan thing to make it not sound bad, is there? :facepalm:

Anybody else get an email?

:hello: Hi, Ben, if you're reading this!

Got one too. Haven't had a chance to research reporter yet, so I haven't made a decision on it..

[Ensign Steve]

Let me know what you find out. I wrote back with my phone number, but I haven't heard anything.

[Ensign Steve]

I talked to the guy for about 5 minutes. He wanted to know whether I still used the program (no), and how long I'd used it (18 months). He asked about my motivation for joining it (environmentalism) and whether I'd looked into where the money was actually going (no).

The big question was whether I knew that the main alternative energy source that they were using, landfill methane, was actually less expensive than traditional sources (no), and how I felt about spending extra for it. I answered that since I was paying for R&D, infrastructure, etc., I was still totally okay with it.

He took my full-name, age, and occupation. So let's see if he quotes me. :shrug:

[Uthgar the Brazen]

He didn't ask for a nude picture? What kind of weird internet stalker are you, Ben?

You FAIL!

[Ensign Steve]

Here's the article:

Green Power: Buyer Beware (http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_39/b4101068119568.htm)

I wasn't quoted. :sadcheer:

[beyelzu]

Well, I imagine that you weren't outraged enough about the extra cost.

[Dingfod]

They had a green power offering through OG&E last year, but it was fully subscribed in short order.