Georgia Magazine - May 2012 - (Page 13)

Georgia’s energy outlook BY ALAN SHEDD, DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ENERGY PROGRAMS, TOUCHSTONE ENERGY First in a series Georgia-grown power PATRICK MCCOMAS Clean Control Solar Project in Warner Robins Green electricity is produced from Tallassee Shoals LowImpact Hydro Power Project. equivalent of removing 125,000 vehicles from Georgia’s roads or planting 176,000 acres of trees. Interest in renewable sources of energy continues to grow. With the rising cost of energy, environmental concerns and tax incentives, these sources of energy hold increasing appeal. Green Power EMC is continually looking for innovative ways to harness renewable energy and deliver it to their members on a large scale. What can homeowners do to generate their own renewable energy? Find out in our next article. Alan Shedd is the director of residential and commercial energy programs for Touchstone Energy. He works with cooperatives, energy managers and industry experts to develop resources and solutions in areas of energy efﬁciency and renewables. A Georgia Tech graduate, he is a registered Professional Mechanical Engineer and Certiﬁed Energy Manager. He helped launch Green Power EMC’s Sunpower for Schools program. 13 May 2012 More online at www.georgiamagazine.org GEORGE MORI S pring is in the air and everyone is thinking green thoughts. Georgia’s Wood waste becomes energy at the electric membership Multitrade Rabun Gap biomass plant. cooperatives (EMC) are no different. In fact, they’ve been generating green power—and making it available to abundant sunshine, the Pacific their members—since 2003. The phrase “renewable energy” Northwest is noted for hydroelectric conjures images of wind turbines dams and the wind blows reliably and shiny solar panels, but sources across the Great Plains. Although Georgia has limited of renewables are many and varied. Methane gas from landﬁlls and ani- wind and hydroelectric capability, the mal waste, water power and agricul- state ranks 13th nationwide in solar retural waste are all viable sources of sources and excels in leveraging crop residue (crops grown speciﬁcally for renewable energy. The use of renewable sources energy production) and waste wood of energy to power homes and busi- from construction and forest managenesses is far from a new idea. Captur- ment to produce renewable energy. ing heat from the sun to help warm Georgia also successfully harvests a house on a cold day predates the methane gas that results from deconstruction of homes, when hu- composing waste at landﬁll sites. The mans discovered that a south-facing gas can be collected, treated and cave with an overhang let in the used as fuel. Seeking to maximize the state’s sun during the winter and provided unique renewable energy potential, shade in the summer. Using solar and wind power to Georgia’s electric co-ops joined forcgenerate electricity is a little more es to form Green Power EMC, a nonrecent. More than 100 years ago, proﬁt corporation that promotes and heat from the sun was harnessed facilitates production and awareness to produce steam to turn an electric of clean, home-grown energy. Green generator. In 1954, the ﬁrst photo- Power EMC helped facilitate the devoltaic cell that generates electricity velopment of and now purchases directly from sunlight was patented. electricity from two landﬁll gas sites, The ﬁrst effective wind turbine was a a low-impact hydroelectric plant, a battery-charging machine installed in wood waste boiler plant and several Scotland in 1887. In the 1930s, small solar electric systems. Although co-op members can’t wind turbines provided electricity for farms across the Midwest. Today, tell the difference between electricity electricity from renewable sources is generated by renewable sources and a small but important part of our na- electricity from a conventional power plant, Green Power EMC has made tional energy mix. Location matters. Deserts in an impact. Its efforts have generated the Southwestern United States have 125,000,000 kWh in 2011 alone, the http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - May 2012

Georgia Magazine - May 2012
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Liberty Notes
Picture This?
Georgia News
More about Moen
Learn about the HGTV Green Home
Currents
Georgia's Energy Outlook
Investing in the future
Around Georgia
Where to stay and eat in Albany
Home energy report 2012
Electrical safety
May’s online trivia contest
My Georgia
Georgia Cooks
Second helping: Cheese
Calendar of Events
Snapshot
Bonus Snapshot submissions
Liberty notes; Plant of the month

Georgia Magazine - May 2012