SEES Programs and Activities: SEES is an educational professional energy society that meets six times a year to learn about regionally-relevant energy topics: energy production, conservation, and marketing; legislative & regulatory developments; new products, technology, and government programs.
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Photos courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, www.nrel.gov
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The primary purpose of the Southeastern Energy Society is to advocate and to promote a greater
awareness of competitive energy generation options and to provide a forum for discussion,
education and exploration of relevant industry issues.
Southface Sustainable Atlanta Roundtables
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Southeastern Energy Society
Covering the Southeast from Atlanta
Southface's Sustainable Atlanta Roundtables (SARs) are held
the first Friday in each month at Ellis Hall, All Saints
Episcopal Church, 634 West Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA
30308. To RSVP for roundtables, call 404/872-3549 or
register on-line.
For other Southface events, check the Southface calendar.
To RSVP for meetings, please contact Alston and Bird (404) 881-7761,
fax (404) 253-8593 or e-mail janice.shaw@alston.com with your name, company and phone
number. Directions.
Spring, 2011, SEES Meetings
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Alston & Bird's Climate Change and Carbon Management Blog
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Alston & Bird's Climate Change and Carbon Management
team has launched a blog which focuses on rapidly
emerging issues associated with greenhouse gas
emissions.
Fall, 2011, SEES Meetings
Missed any meetings & would like to get the presentation materials? Click here. Need professional development documentation? Click here.
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Webcasts, Blogs, & Publications
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April 18th: Biomass in Georgia
John Campbell, Managing Director, Rollcast Energy, Inc., provided an update on Greenway
Renewable Power, Rollcast's latest biomass project in Georgia. Located in Barnesville,
approximately 70 miles southeast of Atlanta, the plant will consume approximately 500,000
tons of woody biomass while producing 53.5 megawatts of electricity. Construction of
the project is expected to generate more than 300 jobs. Once completed, the plant will
provide 27 full-time jobs. The plant is scheduled to be operational by the fourth quarter
of 2012.
March 21st, 2011: Energy Drivers and Trends in the Southeast U.S.
Kim Colburn, BP Energy's Vice President of Wholesale Natural Gas Marketing and
Origination for the Southeast U.S., discussed overall natural gas fundamentals driving
supply, demand, and pricing in North America. He focused on the energy drivers and
trends in the Southeast U.S., including industry activities in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr.
Colburn provided a booklet to attendees: Energy Outlook 2030. Much of the information
in this booklet is also available on BP's website.

The May, 16th, 2011, meeting featured Brad Carver, who clarified the
on-going dispute between Georgia and neighboring states over water
rights. Brad Carver is a partner with the law firm of Hall Booth Smith
& Slover, P.C., heading up HBSS Government Affairs. He also served
as Special Executive Counsel to former Gov. Sonny Perdue on water
issues. He gave us an insider look at where we are now and where we
go from here regarding this crucial problem.
The US has large deposits of natural gas. A process
called "fracking" (hydraulic fracturing) may enhance
the ability to capture this gas, but is this process
safe? Read Ken Silverstein's overview: "Fracking:
Get the Science Out."
A recent poll on EnergyBiz found that 97% of those
responding thought that shale-gas developers
should be required by law to tell communities what
chemicals they are using to extract, or "frack”
because of drinking water considerations.
The second annual South Carolina Renewable Energy Forum was held on July 27th in
Columbia. The all-day event concentrated on potential for renewable energy development
in the state of South Carolina, as well as job creation and how to keep both energy dollars
and talent in the state. Speakers included representatives from in-state electric utilities
and government agencies, political experts, and researchers who shared their vision and
expertise on how South Carolina can play a role in this growing sector. Presentations are
available on the SC Biomass Council's website.
California hopes to generate a third of its electric
requirements by 2020. EnergyBiz evaluates the
likelihood that California can meet this goal.
At the September 19th, 2011, SEES meeting Bill McMullen described the Cimarron Solar
Plant--Southern Company's first commercial-scale solar operation. The facility is a
cooperative effort between Southern Company and Ted Turner. The 364-acre plant site
is located in New Mexico, adjacent to Turner's Vermejo Park Ranch. The facility was
completed in eight months and began commercial operation in early December 2010.
First Solar is a leading manufacturer of thin-film PV solar modules, and it is the first
company in the world to bring the PV panel manufacturing cost below $1 per watt.
Presentation: Part 1 -- Part 2 -- Part3
The October 17th, 2011, meeting featured SEES board member
Peter Floyd. Peter presented an update on the deployment and use
of smart grid technology for Georgia utilities--electric, gas, and
water. The presentation included case studies as well as technical
information. Part 1 -- Part 2
Jon Puckett, Ameresco's Fuel Procurement Manager, spoke on Ameresco's Savannah River
Site (SRS) Biomass Project at the November 21st meeting. This project will be DOE's
largest ever Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC). The cogeneration plant will
use biomass as boiler fuel, producing steam for electric power generation and process.
The presentation focused on highlights from the 18 month construction, commissioning,
and start-up periods.
Natural gas not a climate cure over coal
Boulder, Colorado, September 8, 2011 -- UPI
Even though the combustion of natural gas emits
far less carbon that the combustion of coal,
switching from coal to natural gas would not slow
down climate change significantly , according to a
study by The National Center for Atmospheric
Research.
Natural Gas is a Burning Issue
Ken Silverstein, EnrgyBiz, Oct. 5
According to EnergyBiz, flaring of natural gas found
alongside oil deposits in is a major problem. A
study by the World Bank says that 5.3 trillion feet
of natural gas is flared each year--about 25% of the
natural gas consumed in the US and roughly 30% of
the gas used in the EU. That same study also
concluded that global gas flaring releases about 400
million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Tom McGowan and other Georgia Tech engineers
published a book entitled: Biomass and Alternate
Fuel Systems: An Engineering and Economic Guide,
(AIChE and John Wylie & Sons). SEES member Bill
Bulpitt also contributed to the book. More . . .
At the Southeast Clean Power Summit experts from throughout the Southeast will
discuss trends in clean power and what these trends are likely to mean for utilities,
regulators, developers, and customers in the region. The conference will be held
February 16-17, 2012, in New Orleans, LA.
EU imposes embargo on Iranian oil
Deutsche Welle, January 23, 2012
European Union foreign ministers have announced
a ban on the import of Iranian oil. The new oil
sanction against Iran prohibits any new deals and
calls for existing contracts to be stopped by July
this year.