MG_NL_0607

June 2007

Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter

Member Newsletter

Middle Georgia

The Official Newsletter of Middle Georgia Electric Membership Corporation

P.O. Box 190, Vienna, GA 31092

June 2007

MANAGER'S

Comments

By Hugh Richardson

iddle Georgia EMC recently became the 33rd

member of Green Power EMC, Georgia's first

renewable energy program. Green Power has gener-
ated more than 100 million kWh of electricity from
landfill gas, low-impact hydro and solar projects since
October 2003. The Roberts Road landfill facility in
Fayette County generates green energy from a one-
megawatt facility, along with energy from a four-
megawatt facility at the
Taylor County landfill,
and energy from a 2.3
megawatt capacity unit
at the Tallassee Shoals
low-impact hydro facility
near Athens.

In addition, Green

Power EMC introduced Sun Power for Schools in the
2005-2006 school year, the first statewide school pro-
gram to showcase the benefits of solar energy.
Participating EMCs partner with a middle or high
school to install a photovoltaic system to harness
energy from the sun. To date, EMCs have installed
solar panels at 12 middle or high schools. A monitor-
ing device allows students to see the amount of ener-
gy produced each day, and the accumulated data is
used in math and science classes and is available on
the Internet to share with other schools.

Moreover, Green Power EMC has sought addi-

tional renewable resources to add to its generating
capacity, announcing 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 is constructing a

chicken litter-to-
electricity plant near
Carnesville, Ga., about
70 miles northeast
of Atlanta.

Additionally,

Green Power EMC launched a test to evaluate the
potential of wind generation in Georgia, and

recently announced it
would move to the
next phase in the
assessment project,
which could take
from one to two
years to complete.
Wind data was

gathered from a meteorological tower
temporarily installed near the upper
reservoir of Oglethorpe Power Corp.'s
Rocky Mountain Pumped Storage
Hydroelectric Plant in
Floyd County, Ga.
The next step for wind
power is to get input from
the local community and
explore regulatory, environ-
mental and project design issues.

Presently, all renewable energy

is being subscribed, but Middle
Georgia EMC should have some a
vailability in 2008. For more infor-
mation on Green Power EMC, visit

www.greenpoweremc.com.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE

Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter

hen parents or others think about pool safety

and kids, the most common fear is drowning. But

another danger lies in a seemingly harmless source.

The small drains inside pools and hot tubs can

have a powerful suction, grabbing onto hair, cloth-
ing, jewelry, even body parts, trapping the victim in
the water or causing other injury. It's important that
parents and others, particularly those who manage
community pools, are aware of this danger and take
the proper precautions:

In case of emergency, know where the shut-off
switch is located for the pool or hot tub's main
pump. If you're visiting a community pool, make
sure lifeguards know where the switch is located
and that it is accessible at all times.

Ensure pools have domed drain covers, which
prevent body entrapment.

Pools and hot tubs should have multiple drains
and drain covers as required by current safety
standards. Multiple drains reduce the risk of the
strong suction that can occur if a drain is
blocked.

Make sure that drain covers have smaller open-
ings, to reduce the risk of hair entanglement.

Do self-checks of the drain covers throughout
the year to ensure they are not cracked or
missing. Have a professional check your pool
or hot tub regularly to make sure it is in good
working condition.

Shut down the pool or hot tub if drain covers are
missing or broken, and keep it closed until drain
covers are repaired.

Supervise. At least one adult should always
actively supervise children who are in a pool or
hot tub. This means watching children at all
times, not reading a book or having a conversa-
tion with another adult. Remember, entrapment
and drowning can happen in a matter of
moments.
Because they are avoidable, drain accidents can

be particularly tragic, leaving children with life-altering
injuries, if not death. Awareness and appropriate
action can help prevent these tragedies and keep
children safe.

--Rene Hopkins, coordinator of Safe Kids East Central,

led by the Medical College of Georgia Children's

Medical Center in Augusta. For more information, visit

www.mcghealth.org.

Safe pools for safe kids

June 2007

Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter

Your home

may have

energy eaters

ust because some appli-

ances aren't "on" doesn't

mean they don't use electrici-
ty. Unplug cell phone charg-
ers and other adapters when
not in use. Consider unplug-
ging spare appliances, such
as that extra refrigerator in
the garage that's only used
during the holidays, or the
clock and television in the
guest bedroom.

Also, make sure to pur-

chase Energy Star-rated prod-
ucts when it's time to replace
old ones. Energy-efficient tech-
nology already exists to greatly
reduce the amount of power
used in these invisible ways.

--Source: Rural Electric

Magazine

IST

OCKPHO

T
O
.COM

rom Main Street storefronts to

Fortune 500 companies, coop-

erative businesses create jobs and
encourage economic growth.

Co-ops generate more than

$229 billion in revenues annually

and employ more than half a
million Americans. And because
cooperatives are owned by their
consumers, what's spent there,
stays there, benefiting communi-
ties again and again.

Co-ops have a major economic impact

Did you

KNOW

Did you

Your home

may have

energy eaters

COUR

TESY NREC

Middle Georgia EMC's Annual

Meeting is approaching--

make plans to attend!

Middle Georgia EMC is hosting its 67th Annual Meeting on

Thursday, July 12, 2007

at Dooly Campground, west of Vienna.

All members of the cooperative are invited to attend.

Five For One will be providing the entertainment again this year.

The Nominating Committee

will meet on Tuesday, June 12, 2007,

at 2:00 p.m. at Middle Georgia EMC's Vienna office.

veryone at Middle Georgia EMC would like to congratu-

late J.P. and Lynn Smith on the birth of their second

son, Jackson Alexander, on March 21, 2007.

James Conner is now officially a big

brother! J.P. works for Middle Georgia

EMC as a lineman.

Congratulations!

Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter

GEORGIA MAGAZINE

Board of Directors

Don Wood

President

Johnny Noble

Vice President

Kay West

Secretary

Ronnie Youngblood

Treasurer

John David McCall

Director

Jerry F. Rhodes

Director

Royce Conner

Director

Ronnie Fleeman

Director

David Dunaway

Director

Davis and Forehand

Attorneys

Staff

Hugh Richardson

General Manager

Lisa Laney

Executive Secretary,

Newsletter Editor

Randy Kent

Office Manager

Mike McGee

Manager of Operations

and Engineering

Vienna Area (229) 268-2671

Rochelle

(Day) (229) 365-2263
(Night) 1-800-342-0144

Hawkinsville

(Day) (478) 892-3436
(Night) 1-800-342-0144

Office Hours

Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

(Branch offices closed from

12-1 p.m. daily)

Closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

There is a dispatcher on call 24 hours

a day for your convenience.

ressure washers are handy tools. They can clean up almost anything

and make a house or deck look brand-new. And they're one of the

only tools that mix water and electricity during use--an otherwise deadly
combination.

Pressure washers can be safe to use if you read the manual careful-

ly--and entirely--before operating the device. Keep children and even
other adults far away during use, as the power of the water stream can
cause serious injury.

Before you point that nozzle:

Plug the pressure washer into a properly grounded receptacle.

Stay grounded yourself. Don't try to operate the tool from a ladder.

If you must use an extension cord, choose a heavy-duty outdoor
power cord that is double-insulated. Do not let the connection point
sit in water. Keep all cords far away from the area being washed and
from water runoff.

Wear rubber-soled footwear while using the washer.

Never use a pressure washer indoors because of the possibility of
carbon monoxide poisoning.

Cold climates can cause leftover water in the machine to freeze and
expand, making the tool unsafe to use. Store your pressure washer in
a warm place and use compressed air to purge any remaining liquid
before you pack it up.

Use only the washing chemicals approved by the manufacturer.
Other cleaning agents can damage parts.

Pressure wash
with care