Georgia Magazine - September 2013 - (Page 16)
BY BILL VERNER, GEORGIA EMC, AND RANDALL PUGH, JACKSON EMC
Georgia’s electric co-ops alarmed by President Obama’s climate change proposals
I
n January, Jefferson-based Jackson
Electric Membership Corp. (EMC), a
member co-op of Georgia EMC and
Oglethorpe Power Corp., received a
letter of inquiry from Rep. Henry A.
Waxman (D–CA) and Sen. Sheldon
Whitehouse (D–RI) as a result of
the formation of the Bicameral Task
Force on Climate Change in the 113th
Congress. Jackson EMC is one of
six electric cooperatives nationwide,
among over 300 other stakeholders,
asked to answer the following questions pertaining to potential federal
regulation and congressional action
to address climate change:
20
1. What actions or policies could federal
agencies adopt, using existing authorities, to reduce emissions of heat-trapping pollution?
2. What actions or policies could federal
agencies adopt, using existing authorities, to make our nation more resilient
to the effects of climate change?
20
3. What legislation would you recommend
Congress enact to strengthen the ability
of federal agencies to prevent and respond to the effects of climate change?
While President Barack Obama
ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate and
issue new rules for carbon dioxide
(CO2) emissions from both new and
existing coal-fired power plants following his June 25 address on climate change, the following excerpts
from Jackson EMC President and
CEO Randall Pugh’s Feb. 22, 2013,
response to the Waxman-Whitehouse
inquiry serve as electric cooperative
guiding principles for any legislative
or regulatory proposals attempting to
address climate change:
Dear Chairmen Waxman and
Whitehouse:
As not-for-profit electric cooperatives, we are focused on good
15
800
700
12
16
16
Significant emissions reductions in Georgia
600
9
Environmental compliance is a top priority for Oglethorpe Power
(OPC), the generation cooperative owned by 38 of Georgia’s EMCs.
To comply with the federal Clean Air Act (CAA), emission controls at
the two coal-fired plants in which OPC owns interest (Plant Scherer
in Monroe County and Plant Wansley in Heard County) are installed
12
500
400
8
6
8
300
3
200
4
4
Sulfur dioxide (SO 2) emissions
0
80
0
100
and some of the dramatic results are shown in these graphs.
Significantly, these emission reductions were achieved while OPC’s
fossil-fueled generation increased 90 percent to meet consumer
demand from 1995 to 2012. For more information, see the Oglethorpe
Power 2012 Environmental Report at www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/
opc/environmentalreport2012.
Mercury emissions
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions
0
0
20
800
700
60
Tons, Thousands
Tons, Thousands
70
50
40
15
600
500
Pounds
12
environmental and fiscal resource
stewardship. I have grandchildren,
and I want them to live on a planet
with clean air and water. But I also
want them to live in a society with a
vibrant, competitive economy where
they can choose a career, earn a
decent living and be productive
citizens. This will require long-term
sources of reasonably priced energy,
in all forms.
EMCs are committed to sound
environmental stewardship, and
have demonstrated that commitment
through our investments in modifications to existing coal plants owned
by their generation cooperative,
Oglethorpe Power, in compliance
with the Clean Air Act (see results
below).
Even though energy use has
increased, air quality has improved,
according to the EPA and Energy Information Administration. Between
1980 and 2011, Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) increased 128 per-
10
30
5
20
300
200
100
10
0
0
1994 2000 2005 2012 2015
0
1994 2000 2005 2012 2015
SO2 and NOx emissions
When compared to the baseline year of 1994, 2012 emissions of SO2 and NOx were down
approximately 69 and 65 percent, respectively. Further reductions of 88 percent in SO2 emissions and 31 percent in NOx emissions are anticipated by 2015.
16
400
More online at www.georgiamagazine.org
2000
2005
2011 2015
Mercury emissions
Mercury emissions in 2011 decreased more
than 84 percent as compared to 2000 levels.
—Source: Oglethorpe Power Corp.
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/opc/environmentalreport2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/opc/environmentalreport2012
http://www.georgiamagazine.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - September 2013
Georgia Magazine - September 2013
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Liberty Notes
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar of Events
Currents
Georgia’s Energy Outlook
From Rural Georgia to the Governor’s Mansion
Buried Treasure
Celebrating 75 Years in the Community
Lessons for Learning
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Snapshot
Georgia Magazine - September 2013
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