Dec 22 2009
Georgia Power, the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, has signed a two-year contract with Robins Air Force Base for the purpose of increasing the amount of renewable energy used by the base. Robins Air Force Base will purchase 5 percent of its annual kilowatt-hour consumption or more than 16 million kilowatt-hours of Green Energy annually in order to satisfy the challenging federal renewable mandates for military installations.
Robins Air Force Base has a workforce of more than 25,584 military personnel, civilians, and contractors. Robins Air Force Base is the largest industrial complex in Georgia and the largest participant in the Green Energy Program developed by Georgia Power. More than 40 percent of the renewable energy that is sold through the Green Energy Program is purchased by Robins Air Force Base. The recent purchase was made through Green Energy Program’s large volume option.
Green Energy is eco-friendly electricity generated from renewable sources such as biomass, the sun and landfill methane. Customers taking part in the Green Energy Program contribute by supporting domestic energy self-reliance and they also help in reducing the environmental impact of energy production and conserve natural resources. The electricity for the Green Energy Program is currently obtained from a landfill methane-to-energy plant at the Seminole Landfill in DeKalb County.
David Dykes, Federal Segment Manager of Georgia Power, remarked that the Green Energy Program is enabling Robins Air Force Base to meet its renewable energy goals. Robins Air Force Base’s involvement in this program highlights its commitment in developing renewable energy in the Southeast.
The Green Energy Program was started by Georgia Power in October 2006, and from this time almost 4,300 customers have been actively involved in purchasing an excess of 3 million kilowatt-hours of green energy or sufficient electricity to power almost 3,100 homes with the usage of 1,000 kilowatt-hours every month. Residential customers can buy 100-kilowatt-hour blocks with each block costing $3.50. This cost is added to the customer’s monthly electricity bill. Green Energy is also available with a solar component priced at $4.50 per block.