Green Power an alternative electricity source
Apr 19 - Spartanburg Herald - Journal
For Mitchell Powers, paying an extra $6 a month to use Green Power is a practical investment.
"It's for my children," said Powers, an Enoree resident. "The
older you get, you find yourself doing things you wouldn't do when you were
younger."
Laurens Electric recently became the first utility in the state to of offer
Green Power to its customers. Green Power is the concept of producing renewable
energy from such sources as methane gases, animal wastes and water.
Customers can purchase 100 kilowatt-hour blocks for $3. The charge will be
added to the customer's monthly electric bill.
Jim Donahoo, a Laurens Electrical spokesman, said revenue generated from
sales would be reinvested in future development of additional renewable
resources.
"None of the revenue will go toward any administrative or marketing
costs," Donahoo said.
Laurens Electric's Green Power is generated by Santee Cooper from methane gas
produced by natural organic decay in the Horry County Landfill.
A network of pipes is used to collect the methane and deliver it to three
specifically designed generators where the electricity is produced and
distributed to customers. Using methane gas as a fuel has positive environmental
benefits because it has been identified as a greenhouse gas. A 3-megawatt
methane gas plant at full capacity has the same positive environmental impact as
planting more than 21,000 acres of trees. Donahoo said an investment of $6 per
month for one year on an electric bill buys enough Green Power to equal the
environmental benefits of not driving your car for three months or planting an
acre of trees in a national forest.
Donahoo said the cooperative is optimistic the program will be successful.
"We've done research and found our members are interested in saving the
environment," he said. "We found we have a substantial number of
houses in our territory that would want to purchase Green Power."
Copyright New York Times Company Mar 30, 2004