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