Oglethorpe Power Donation Helps Equip Talbot Community Center

Submitted to the New Era
Oglethorpe Power today continued its longstanding commitment to supporting the communities where it operates by providing a $20,000 contribution to help outfit the new Talbot County Community Center. The donation will be used to purchase equipment and supplies for youth recreation and other activities at the center, scheduled to open in 2026.
“We’re proud to provide reliable energy for our Members and improve the communities where we operate,” said Annalisa Bloodworth, Oglethorpe Power President & CEO. “One of our guiding cooperative principles is Concern for Community, and we’re pleased to support youth sports programs that will offer Talbot County children and families meaningful opportunities to learn, grow and succeed.”
Oglethorpe Power’s donation will help Talbot County secure essential equipment to operate the new community center’s recreation programs, supporting needs like gymnasium floor padding, equipment for basketball, volleyball and pickleball, as well as concession-area supplies and other necessary items.
Representatives from Flint Energies and Upson EMC, which provide electric service in Talbot County and other area counties, joined the charitable donation. The companies represent two of the 38 consumer-owned, not-for-profit distribution cooperatives that own and receive wholesale electricity from Oglethorpe Power.
“We appreciate that Oglethorpe Power shares our mission to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Talbot County,” said Carol Ison, Talbot County Manager. “These donations will strengthen our youth sports programs and support a wide range of activities that benefit residents of all ages and bring our community together.”
In addition to supporting the community center, today Oglethorpe Power also donated $5,000 to the Box Springs Volunteer Fire Department to purchase equipment that enhances firefighter safety. The donation was presented at the department’s station near the Talbot Energy Facility, a natural gas-fired generation plant in Talbot County owned and operated by Oglethorpe Power. In 2024, the facility contributed $1.2 million in ad valorem taxes, making the company the county’s largest taxpayer and supporting the local school system and critical government services.
Oglethorpe Power is also expanding its generation facility operations in Talbot County. In 2024, the company announced the construction of a new combustion turbine unit at the Talbot Energy Facility. Once completed, the new unit will make the facility the most efficient natural gas-fired peaking plant in Oglethorpe Power’s fleet, helping to power Georgia’s electricity needs during periods of peak demand. The construction project will create hundreds of temporary jobs and represents a $360 million capital investment in Talbot County. Additional details on the construction process and project timeline are available at opc.com/newgeneration/.
The new unit is in addition to ongoing upgrades to the facility’s dual-fuel capabilities to improve reliability and resiliency during extreme conditions, with completion expected by year-end.
Oglethorpe Power remains committed to being an engaged corporate citizen and good neighbor in the communities where it owns and operates assets, with a focus on youth programs and education. Recent contributions in Talbot County include support for Feeding the Valley Food Bank, 4-H’s Project Safe, Central Elementary-High after-school program and the REACH Georgia scholarship program.
About Oglethorpe Power
Oglethorpe Power is among the nation’s largest power supply cooperatives and is one of the largest energy producers in Georgia. With more than $16 billion in assets, Oglethorpe Power owns and operates a diverse portfolio of resources to provide reliable, affordable, safe and environmentally responsible energy to 38 consumer-owned, not-for-profit Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMCs) that provide retail electricity to approximately 4.7 million Georgians. Through its investment in nuclear, natural gas, hydro and coal resources, Oglethorpe Power’s generation fleet has a combined capacity of more than 9,300 megawatts. For more information, visit opc.com.