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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. APRIL 16, 2008 - PAGE 3A
Commerce Close To
Finalizing Deal To Buy
New Baseline Electricity
Nothing is certain, but it looks
like Commerce may be able to buy
a little more than its “entitlement”
share of electricity from Georgia’s
newest nuclear reactors.
City officials met with represen
tatives of the Municipal Electric
Authority of Georgia (MEAG) last
Wednesday as the process of div
vying up MEAG’s 22.7 percent
interest in the two new reactors
scheduled to be built at the South
ern Company’s Plant Vogtle near
Waynesboro.
The city must have its request
into MEAG by June 15, and MEAG
has 15 days after that to formalize
its contract with the Georgia Pow
er Company. The plant, the first
new nuclear generation to be built
since the 1970s, is scheduled to go
online in 2016.
Georgia Power is the majority
owner of the project. Oglethorpe
EMC, MEAG and the city of Dal
ton utilities also own shares.
According to City Manager
Clarence Bryant, Commerce is
entitled to 3.5 megawatts of pow
er. It would like to buy 10. What it
will actually be able to purchase
remains up in the air as the 48 oth
er members of MEAG hammer
out the details of how much elec
tricity they’ll want. Some will buy
their entitlement, others will not,
and the leftover will be distributed
among the MEAG members who
want to buy more power.
“It looks like anyone who has
excess power for the next 15 to
20 years is going to be in great
shape,” Bryant said. “I think ev
erybody’s going to be better off to
be long than short in the interim
period.”
Bryant said it appears that the
city will be able to acquire a little
more than the 3.5 megawatts, but
just how much more remains un
clear.
Right now, the city is working
with the MEAG staff to prepare
several contract strategies. Should
the city be able to buy more than
3.5 megawatts, it will want to sell
some of that electricity for 20
years.
The tricky part is trying to figure
the city’s electricity needs in the
future. Currently, the city has 14.5
megawatts available, and its con
sumption on peak days is right at
that level.
But in a couple of decades,
Georgia’s other nuclear plant,
Plant Hatch, is scheduled to be
closed, although its life could pos
sibly be extended. Commerce
gets a portion of its power from
Plant Hatch through MEAG. In
addition, there is a fear that the
Southeastern Power Adminis
tration, from which Commerce
receives low-cost hydroelectric
power, may start basing its gen
eration more on water needs than
on power needs, which would
reduce the amount of electricity
available, Bryant said.
When it signs with MEAG, the
city will sign two contracts; one
will cover the purchase of what
ever amount of electricity the city
gets, and one to cover the sale of
a portion of that power to a third
party for 20 years.
“We will have to preauthorize
MEAG to act on the city’s behalf
in any one of two or three differ
ent scenarios,” Bryant pointed
out.
The city did learn how much the
electricity will cost, Bryant said,
but cannot make that information
public under a strict confidential
ity agreement required by West-
inghouse, which is building the
plant.
Georgia Power has indicated it
will divulge its costs the first week
in May, according to Bryant, who
indicated that Commerce would
likely follow suit.
Construction Slow; Only
2 Building Permits In March
The Commerce Department
of Building Inspection issued
just two building permits during
March.
One was for the construction of
a greenhouse valued at $20,000,
and the other was for an alteration
to a dwelling, valued at $15,000.
During the month, the depart
ment also performed 35 building
inspections, 31 plumbing inspec
tions, 32 electrical inspections and
23 miscellaneous inspections.
The department also performed
137 inspections of new construc
tion, 37 utility inspections, made
40 follow-up inspections, wrote
46 letters and dealt with 116 walk-
in issues. In the area of code
enforcement, the department
handled 571 calls and had three
abandoned vehicles removed.
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The Jackson Co. Republican Party
Would like you to meet us for
breakfast the second Sat. of each
month, 8:00 at The Jefferson
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706-652-2967 or email
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Igl AMERICAN LEGION
Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
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Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr.
Each 4th Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Mike Buffington, Commander
Phone 706-335-6532 263
JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. • (706) 367-1400
Mark Bradley, President
260
UNITY LODGE
F & A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Dwight Wier • 706-367-5882
Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m.-(706)654-2237
Clay Eubanks, President
260
0k COMMERCE
WAMERICAN LEGION
Commerce Rec. Dept. Post 93
Carson Street - 1st Mon. night
Each Month, 7:30 p.m.
335-6400
BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial
Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441
North in Homer pd.-2/2008
JEFFERSON
ISP AMERICAN LEGION
Albert Gordon Post 56
Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Harvie Lance, Commander
Phone (706) 654-1274 sio
White Plains Baptist Church Pd 02/09
Faith Bible Class meets every Sunday morning
at 10:00 a.m. It is a place where strangers
become friends and friends become family.
706-367-5650
White Plains Baptist Church
3650 Hwy. 124 West, Jefferson, GA 30549
Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, April 17
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00
p.m., First United Methodist
Church of Commerce. The
Pilot Club of Commerce meets
on the third Thursday of each
month.
Monday, April 21
Hospital autnority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients
and their families.
Tuesday, April 22
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, April 24
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Friday, April 25
Movie in the Park: dusk, at
Spencer Park, downtown Com
merce. Free. The first Fridays
After 5 movie will be 'The Bee
Movie." Concessions will be
available. Earlier, a variety of
Commerce city equipment will
be on display as part of a Geor
gia Cities Week observation.
Cold Sassy Quitters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, April 28
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planninq Commission makes
recommendations on zoning
requests and land use matters.
Tuesday, April 29
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, May 1
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Monday, May 5
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This "work
session" prepares the city coun
cil for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, May 6
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Wednesday, May 7
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
a.m., Jefferson Civic Center. All
members of the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce
are invited.
Thursday, May 8
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce Elementary
School media center. This "work
session" of the Commerce
Board of Education is used to
prepare for the regular meeting
the following Monday night at
the same time.
Friday, May 9
Concert in the Park: 6:00
p.m. Spencer Park, downtown
Commerce. Free bluegrass or
folk music. Concessions avail
able, groups TBA. Part of the
Fridays After 5 series.
Monday, May 12
Commerce Council meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's school system.
Tuesday, May 13
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, May 15
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quitters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, May 19
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients
and their families.
Tuesday, May 20
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Thursday, May 22
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Friday, May 23
Concert in the Park: 6:00
p.m. Spencer Park, downtown
Commerce. Free bluegrass or
folk music. Concessions avail
able, groups TBA. Part of the
Fridays After 5 series spon
sored^ by the DDA.
Cold Sassy Quitters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, May 26
Memorial Day holiday: All
overnment offices and some
usinesses closed.
Tuesday, May 27
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, May 29
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Monday, June 2
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This "work
session" prepares the city coun
cil for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, June 3
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Wednesday, June 4
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
a.m., location TBA. All mem
bers of the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce
are invited.
Thursday, June 5
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce Middle School
media center. This work session
prepares the board for its regu
lar meeting the following Mon
day night in the media center of
Commerce High School.
Friday, June 6
Movie in the Park: dusk, at
Spencer Park, downtown Com
merce. Free. The last Fridays
After 5 movie will be "Surf's
Up," rated "G". Concessions
will be available.
Monday, June 9
Commerce Council meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's school system.
Tuesday, June 10
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, June 11
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quitters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, June 16
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients
and their families.
Tuesday, June 17
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, June 19
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00
p.m., First United Methodist
Church of Commerce. The
Pilot Club of Commerce meets
on the third Thursday of each
month.
Monday, June 23
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planninq Commission makes
recommendations on zoning
requests and land use matters.
Tuesday, June 24
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
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