Commerce among most 'green' of electric suppliers

During 2010, only 36.33 percent of the city’s electricity was generated by coal, according to a chart provided by MEAG. Other sources included nuclear (49.08 percent), hydroelectric (10.44 percent) and natural gas (4.15 percent).

“I was real pleased that almost 50 percent of our electricity comes from nuclear and 10 percent from SEPA (Southeastern Power Administration, which operates hydroelectric plants),” said Mayor Charles L. Hardy Jr. “Our carbon footprint is better than 90 percent of the other entities producing power in Georgia.”

That footprint stands to get smaller in 2016 when the two new units at Vogtle go online and a higher percentage of the city’s electricity comes from nuclear generation and less from coal. Commerce has contracted to buy 5.865 megawatts, 5 MWs of which are coming on line in 2015-17 and the rest of which are deferred for 30 years, during which time they’re being sold to a third party.