NEWS - State-Regional News

Leaders and locals show support for Georgia wind power

Sept. 4, 2012 – More than 300 area residents  joined elected officials and wind energy manufacturers at a rally tonight on Tybee Island. The event, called   the “Wind Works: for Jobs, for Georgians” rally was sponsored by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) and the Sierra Club. The coalition of groups and individuals came together on Labor Day weekend to promote the development of wind energy jobs in Georgia. With significant offshore wind energy resources and a growing component manufacturing base throughout the state, wind power can provide clean energy for Georgia families and businesses while creating jobs across the state.

“We need to develop Georgia's renewable energy resources to revitalize our economy, create high-paying jobs and, reduce water consumption for energy. Off-shore wind power is a great option for Georgia,”  said Tybee Island City Councilman Paul Wolff. “This event brought people together on Tybee's pier, where they can visualize what a wind farm would look like, and provided science-based information about the benefits and feasibility of off-shore wind. I’m doing my part to support off-shore wind in Georgia, and I call on other state leaders to join me.”

According to the Department of Energy, Georgia has the fourth largest accessible offshore wind energy potential of all Atlantic coast states. Currently, approximately 2,000 Georgians are employed by manufacturers located in the state making one of the more than 8,000 parts needed for wind turbine construction. Department of Energy estimates show that by developing a small fraction of Georgia’s 14,500 megawatt offshore wind energy potential, the state could see an the growth of some 20,000 additional wind energy-related jobs.

However, Gov. Nathan Deal is currently one of only two Atlantic Coast governors not working with the Department of Interior’s ’Smart from the Start’ program to kick-start wind energy jobs and development and streamline the permitting process. States like North Carolina and South Carolina have aggressively recruited wind manufacturing jobs by working with the Department of the Interior and recruiting businesses.

“Developing Georgia's offshore wind resources can generate thousand of high-quality, well-paying jobs that we will celebrate on future Labor Day weekends for generations to come,” said Anna Smit, Clean Energy Associate for SACE.

“Georgia needs leaders who will stand-up for Georgia jobs,” said Seth Gunning, organizing eepresentative with the Georgia Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. “With such a large potential for wind energy in Georgia waters, Gov. Nathan Deal should be leading the way in creating lasting,  twenty-first century clean energy jobs for Georgians by working with the ‘Smart from the Start’ program to kick-start offshore wind energy development in our state.”

This event was made possible by the following sponsors: Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Georgia Sierra Club, Brighter Day, Coastal Solar Power Company, Good Vibrations Health and More, Papa’s Bar-B-Que and Seafood, Tybee Island Social Club, The Sentient Bean, and Well FED Magazine.

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