Press Mention The Florida Times-Union / Jacksonville.com September 18, 2008
SACE Quoted
Electric co-op to invest in biomass
In this mention
Oglethorpe Power Corp., the nation's largest cooperative-owned electric generator, announced a $1 billion investment in two 100-megawatt biomass power plants fueled by pine tree waste. The announcement was applauded by Gov. Sonny Perdue and environmentalists, including Anne Blair of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, who noted the contribution to alternative energy expansion in Georgia.
Every little bit is going to help
Anne Blair
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Electric co-op to invest in biomass
It will spend $1 billion to build a pair of 100-megawatt plants.
By Walter C. Jones, The Times-Union
ATLANTA - A $1 billion investment in two power plants will generate a new source of environmentally friendly electricity for the half of the state's residents supplied by electric membership cooperatives.
Tucker, Ga.-based Oglethorpe Power Corp., the nation's largest cooperative-owned electric generator, announced Thursday it will build two 100-megawatt plants to be fueled by the waste from pine trees harvested for pulp and timber. Increased demand could prompt the utility to add a third by the planned 2015 start-up date.
Tom Smith, president and chief executive officer of Oglethorpe Power Corp., said, "We're pleased to find an environmentally friendly way to help meet some of our members' growing demand for electricity."
Among Oglethorpe's member cooperatives in Southeast Georgia are Satilla EMC in Alma, Okefenokee EMC in Nahunta and Slashpine EMC in Homerville.
Gov. Sonny Perdue applauded the news during his annual environmental address.
"With our abundant biomass resources, Georgia has the unique opportunity to expand our use of alternative energy, grow our economy and transform the way we provide energy to our citizens," he said.
Though the plants will make a relatively small contribution to the 4,000 megawatts the company already produces, environmentalists hailed the announcement, too.
"Every little bit is going to help," said Anne Blair, bioenergy program manager for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, an advocacy organization based in Atlanta.
Oglethorpe Power already generates electricity from coal, natural gas, nuclear and hydro-electric plants. It is joining Georgia Power Co. in seeking permission to build two more nuclear plants at the site of Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro.
No sites have been selected for the biomass plants, but the company has taken options on land at five locations in four East Georgia counties: Appling, Echols, Warren and Washington.