Green Power EMC

EMCs Sign Unique Renewable Energy Agreement

March 21, 2006 -- Green Power EMC, a partnership of 28 electric membership corporations (EMCs) in Georgia, has announced plans to purchase 20 megawatts of electricity from the first poultry litter-to-energy operation in Georgia.

The electricity will be provided by Earth Resources Inc., which will construct a chicken litter-to-electricity plant near Carnesville, Ga., about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta. The Franklin County plant is the first in the state to use a gasification system to convert poultry litter into a useful product – electricity.

When complete, the $20 million facility will generate enough energy annually to meet the needs of more than 15,000 homes. Construction is scheduled to begin in May and expected to be operational by summer 2007.

The 15-year power purchase agreement is part of Green Power EMC’s mission to research and develop renewable energy options such as biomass, solar, wind and low-impact hydro.

“Green Power EMC continues to assist its members in diversifying their energy resources and their renewable energy portfolio,” says Michael Whiteside, president/CEO of Green Power EMC. “This technology will benefit businesses, farmers, EMC customers, residents of Georgia and the environment.”

“As we were reminded by the disruption of our gas supplies after Hurricane Katrina, energy is a critical, and vulnerable, ingredient of our economy,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Georgia must be proactive in developing alternative energy sources, and that is exactly what we’re seeing with Green Power EMC’s poultry litter-to-energy operation. If this project is successful, it has the potential to be replicated throughout the state, and could be a significant agricultural solution for Georgia’s growing energy needs.”

The Franklin County project has attracted interest from universities, government agencies, utility companies and agri-business interests.

Georgia is the largest poultry-producing state in the United States and represents a $17 billion industry in Georgia, according to the University of Georgia.

Recently, Green Power EMC had closely monitored an Earth Resources chicken-litter-to-energy research demonstration project, made possible by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. After the prototype proved so successful, Earth Resources made plans to construct a commercial facility.

According to Abit Massey with the Georgia Poultry Federation, this facility will provide an additional opportunity for poultry growers to utilize the litter that is a by-product of their farms.

“In instances where farmers have more litter than they want to utilize as fertilizer for crop production, this technology provides an excellent alternative,” says Massey.

Additionally, there are other benefits to be gained from chicken litter-to-energy projects. First, the gasification technology used to convert litter into energy produces lower emissions. Second, the energy conserved means less reliance on fossil fuels. Finally, the process transforms the litter resource into a valuable commodity—electricity.

Individuals in photo above: l-r: Morgan Dinsmore, Sonny Dinsmore, Earth Resources Inc.; Jeff Murphy, President/CEO Hart EMC; Governor Sonny Perdue; Michael Whiteside, President, Green Power EMC; Stone Workman, USDA Rural Development State Director; Chairman John Bulloch, Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

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