Gary L. Smith

PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, headquartered in Andalusia, Ala., is a generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative providing the wholesale power needs of 20 distribution members - 16 electric cooperatives and four municipal electric systems - in Alabama and northwest Florida. In 1941, PowerSouth was formed by 11 cooperatives to generate and sell electricity. First known as Alabama Electric Cooperative, its name was changed to PowerSouth Energy Cooperative in 2008 to better reflect its geographical service territory and to position the company for future growth opportunities. Today, as one of 62 G&T cooperatives in the United States, PowerSouth is a trusted energy provider for its distribution members, serving more than 1 million end-users in 39 Alabama and 10 Florida counties.

The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, Inc. assists in economic development programs. Its focus on helping the state attract and retain industry. The firm fills a role in the industrial recruitment process by marketing and promoting Alabama as a business location, and by providing research, information and proposals to companies and consultants that are actively searching for a site. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Birmingham, AL.

American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity offers electricity generators, coal producers, railroads, barge operators, and equipment manufacturers. The company is headquartered in Falls Church, VA.

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. provides energy and environmental research services. It conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. The firm also provides technology, policy and economic analyses to drive long-range research and development planning and supports research in emerging technologies. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA.