Green Power EMC, the renewable energy provider to 38 electric cooperatives in Georgia, celebrated its 15^th anniversary in a special ceremony at Flint Energies headquarters in Reynolds, Ga.

The commemorative service, which included a tour of a nearby solar facility, drew representatives from electric cooperatives around the state.

Green Power EMC was formed in 2001 and began providing clean, renewable energy to its member cooperatives in 2003. It was the first green energy utility in Georgia.

Jeff Pratt, president of Green Power EMC, praised Georgia's electric cooperatives for having the foresight to enter into the green energy business at a time when many utilities were not ready to do so.

"Looking back on the past 15 years, it's clear to me that electric cooperative leaders in our state were ahead of their time in recognizing the need to add renewable energy to their already diverse portfolio of generating resources," Pratt said.

Since its formation, Green Power EMC has secured renewable energy from solar, biomass, low-impact hydroelectric and landfill gas facilities totaling 280 megawatts of generating capacity, Pratt said. 

Green Power EMC and its member cooperatives have also become leaders in solar development in Georgia. Among the solar resources utilized by Green Power EMC and its member cooperatives are a 20-megawatt solar project developed last year near Hazlehurst, Ga. by Green Power EMC and its partner, Silicon Ranch. A second phase, which will begin operating late this year, will provide an additional 52 MW of solar generating capacity.

Further, Green Power EMC and its members have developed a program known as Cooperative Solar that offers customers of participating electric cooperatives the ability to subscribe to available solar capacity at a competitive price from their co-op's solar energy resources. These resources may include large off-site solar facilities as well as smaller community solar projects. Because rooftop panels are eliminated, system maintenance, roof age and condition, orientation and shade-providing trees are not an issue. Customers should check with their local electric co-op to find out whether Cooperative Solar is available in their area.

"Through the Cooperative Solar program, we now have almost 4,000 customer members from 11 electric co-ops across the state that receive renewable solar energy, and more co-ops are set to launch the program soon," Pratt noted.