Georgia Magazine - November 2023 - 15

SHORTTakes
Jackson EMC leads EV
workshops for firefighters
New president/CEO:
Middle Georgia Electric
Membership Corp.
(EMC) in Vienna has
named Randy Nichols
as its new president
and CEO after the
retirement of former
President and CEO
Randy Crenshaw.
Nichols had a 47-year
career as a certified public accountant at McNair,
McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co. in Macon. He owns
and operates a cattle farm in Ideal and enjoys
spending time with his family at their home on
Lake Blackshear.
More than 280 fi refi ghters attended workshops led
by Jackson EMC to learn how to approach electric
vehicles safely after accidents. Right: Participants
saw fi rsthand how the vehicles operate.
J
ackson Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) in
Jefferson hosted more than 280 firefighters from
Banks, Barrow, Hall, Clarke, Madison, Gwinnett and Jackson counties during
the week of July 10 for training about the different types of electric vehicles (EVs) and
emergency response procedures.
Jackson EMC also partnered with Amicalola EMC in Jasper on July 11 to host three
classes to train an additional 90 firefighters from Amicalola EMC's service area.
During the training, first responders learned how the EVs are constructed and
what steps should be taken to approach them safely after the EVs are involved in
accidents. For example, if there is a vehicle fire, the lithium-ion batteries in EVs
cause them to burn longer and hotter than do internal combustion engines, so first
responders need to learn the correct strategies for extinguishing EV fires. The Jackson
EMC team also gave participants the opportunity to look at the vehicles firsthand.
David Cleveland, managing director of business development and governmental
affairs at Jackson EMC, organized these events.
" EVs are growing in interest with our members and the general public, " Cleveland
said. " Jackson EMC has a strong culture of safety, and we want to support area first
responders in this training on how to work safely with this emerging technology in an
emergency situation.
" Jackson EMC is proud to support first responders and continue to find new ways
to be a partner in our communities. "
Block party: Upson EMC in Thomaston
was a sponsor of the Thomaston-Upson
Chamber of Commerce's annual Rock the
Block concert on Aug. 4. More than 500
people came out to the Upson County
Courthouse for the outdoor concert,
which featured headliner The Garth Guy
Show, a Garth Brooks tribute band.
Gathering STEAM: Colquitt EMC in Moultrie
awarded a $1,000 Renewable Energy STEAM
(science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics)
Grant to Snapology of Tifton. The grant,
which is funded by Tucker-based Green Power
EMC, will support programs that use hands-on
activities to teach STEAM concepts to children
ages 2 to 14. Green Power EMC provides grant
funding for Georgia's electric cooperatives to
promote STEAM-related projects and activities.
Important steps: Jackson EMC in Jefferson was
a sponsor of the University of North Georgia's
Steps-to-College program. The program,
which took place in June at the university's
Gainesville campus, helps multilingual students
earn academic credit needed for high school
graduation and builds their confidence that they
can succeed in higher education. More than 100
students from high schools in Gainesville and
Banks, Hall and Forsyth counties participated in
this year's program.
Golfing for good: Palmetto-based CowetaFayette
EMC's foundation raised more than
$20,000 at its inaugural Swing Fore Operation
Round Up Golf Tournament on May 11 at the
Newnan Country Club. Among the sponsors
was Tucker-based Oglethorpe Power. Operation
Round Up supports local charitable causes.
Sharing smiles: Flint Energies in Reynolds
donated $5,000 to Operation Veteran Smiles,
which provides care packages for veterans
receiving long-term care at Veterans
Administration hospitals in the Southeast. The
nonprofit organization was founded by Amelia
Day, a former Flint Energies delegate on the
Washington Youth Tour leadership-development
program. A portion of the donated funds was
the result of a matching grant by CoBank, one
of Flint Energies' lenders, which doubles co-op
customers' contributions to their chosen charities
through its Sharing Success program.
www.georgiamagazine.org
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COURTESY THOMASTON-UPSON CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
COURTESY JACKSON EMC
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NOEL PLUNKETT / MIDDLE GEORGIA EMC
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Georgia Magazine - November 2023

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