What is Green Energy?

Green Energy is electricity produced in an environmentally friendly manner. Sources of green energy can include the sun, wind, water, biomass and geothermal. The use of these sources can reduce overall emissions from electricity generation. This makes renewable electricity technologies among the cleanest while having the least impact on the environment. You can help bring more alternative energy generation to Georgia by simply signing up.

Program description
Benefits of Green Energy
Green Energy production
Accountability

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
How much does Georgia Power's Green Energy cost?
Green Energy is sold to residential customers in 100-kilowatt-hour blocks per month for a 12-month period. (100 kwh corresponds to roughly 10 percent of an average monthly residential consumer's bill). Each block adds $3.50 (plus tax) to a customer's monthly power bill. Customers may buy as many blocks as they like Customers may also choose to enroll for Green Energy that contains both biomass and a solar component at $4.50 (plus tax) added to your monthly electricity bill.

Business customers may also buy blocks of Green Energy at $3.50 each (plus tax). The minimum number of blocks purchased by a business will be based on the amount of energy the customer has historically used. There is also a large volume purchase option available to those customers who desire to purchase more than 400 blocks per month. After a customer purchases the minimum number of blocks for their rate class, they may purchase additional blocks at a greatly reduced price. This price is based on market conditions at the time of purchase.

Why does Green Energy cost more?
Although renewable sources like sunlight and wind are free, the technology used to capture the energy they produce is still more expensive than traditional power generation methods. Additionally, the renewable sources have relatively low availability. For example, the wind does not always blow and the sun does not always shine. Increased demand for Green Energy may lead to expanded power production capacity and eventually to lower costs.

How do I sign up for Green Energy?
Georgia Power residential and business customers may sign up for Green Energy online or via phone at 1-800-735-7791. Green Energy will simply add $3.50 (per block) to your monthly bill.

If I have signed up for Budget Billing or FlatBill®, how will Green Energy affect my bill?
Signing up for Green Energy will not interfere with Budget Billing, FlatBill®, or other energy options. Green Energy will simply add $3.50 (per block) to your monthly bill.

BENEFITS OF GREEN ENERGY
How does Green Energy benefit the environment?
Substituting renewable generation for traditional generation conserves our finite fossil fuel resources and results in lower emissions.

How will buying Green Energy help my business?
Purchasing Green Energy can help your company meet environmental objectives (for instance, reducing emissions), and can help improve your relationships with customers, employees, and the local community by showing you are concerned enough about improving the environment to participate in a voluntary program.

Why should I contribute when my neighbor might not?
Georgia Power's Green Energy program gives YOU the opportunity to take an active role in improving our environment. Everyone who participates makes a difference.

GREEN ENERGY PRODUCTION
How will Georgia Power produce Green Energy?
Potential sources include solar, wind, biomass and hydro.

What is biomass, and how is electricity generated from it?
Landfill gas is a form of biomass. Initially, Georgia Power will use landfill gas as its primary supply for the Green Energy program. Landfill gas, which consists mainly of methane and carbon dioxide, is produced when organic wastes in landfill sites decay. At larger landfills, the gas must be burned, or flared, in order to reduce the hazard arising from gas buildup. Although landfill gas is primarily a pollutant that needs to be controlled, the methane it contains makes it valuable as a fuel for powering an electric generator. This method of producing renewable energy is now regarded as one of the most mature and successful in the field of green power.

How much electricity can a landfill produce? It depends on the size and age of the landfill, but production tends to range from three to eight megawatts. So, a five-megawatt plant would produce approximately 39 million kilowatt-hours per year-enough to meet the yearly energy needs of about 3,200 homes.

What is solar energy? How is it generated?
Solar energy is electricity that is converted from sunlight. It's generated through photovoltaic (PV) systems that use semiconductor cells, or modules, that convert sunlight directly into electricity. The PV cells are connected in the form of flat panels that can be mounted on rooftops.

To learn more about selling excess solar energy you generate back to Georgia Power, please visit distributed generation.

How much electricity does a PV solar system produce?
The production ranges from four to 50 kilowatts. On average, a 10-kilowatt PV system could generate approximately 13,140 kilowatt-hours per year, or a little more than the total amount of electricity used in a typical home.

What is wind energy? How is it generated?
Wind energy is produced from daily and seasonal changes in temperature that generate wind. Wind energy is produced in a modern wind machine, a turbine with blades attached and switchgear that are mounted in a casing at the top of a tower. Wind machines use the spinning blades to capture kinetic energy in moving wind, which is then transferred to rotor blades that produce electricity. A four-megawatt wind site would produce approximately 9.8 million kilowatt-hours per year - enough to supply the annual electricity needs of about 800 typical residential homes.

ACCOUNTABILITY
As a consumer, how can I be assured that the energy is truly "green?"
Georgia Power must acquire renewable generation that meets the criteria that has been approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission. Initially, the company will use landfill methane along with solar. Wind is still an option, however it is not readily available in the Southeast. Additionally, Georgia Power's Green Energy program is Green-e Energy certified.

What else is Georgia Power doing to support the environment beyond green pricing?
Georgia Power supports an array of environmental projects to make our air and water cleaner and our land more beautiful. We recently reduced our impact on the environment by investing $800 million in additional emission reduction controls on 7 power plants. We anticipate spending another $2 billion on additional controls to meet new federal and state rules over the next several years. We also are building and enhancing habitats for wildlife, and are involved in numerous company-supported programs that educate the public about the environment and energy conservation.