NEWS - Non-Profit Organizations

SBJ Staff Report

Feb 6, 2012 – The Tybee Island Water and Energy Fair, sponsored by the Tybee Island Community Resource Committee, will be held this Saturday, Feb. 11.  It’s an opportunity for the public to learn more about renewable energy, and a chance for companies to educate community members on topics such as offshore wind energy, water conservation and reusing community resources.  

Local vendors, scientists, and organizations dedicated to protecting our region’s natural resources will be on hand giving demonstrations and teaching attendees about practical actions they can take for their homes and businesses.

The fair, which is free, will be held at the Tybee Island YMCA gym,  204 5^th St, Tybee Island, GA, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This year’s fair theme, ‘Know Your Impact,’ highlights how daily choices impact energy and water consumption, and also how individuals can have a positive impact on elected officials in crafting favorable clean energy policies, according to organizers.

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) will be a participating company, according to Anna Cayce Smit, Clean Energy Associate for SACE.  The organization will be leading a workshop on offshore wind energy opportunities in Georgia, and will be available to answer questions at SACE’s booth.

“The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy appreciates the opportunity to promote offshore wind through the Tybee Island Water and Energy Fair,” said Smit. “As a coastal community, Tybee Island faces unique threats from climate change impacts, most notably sea level rise. Offshore wind energy represents a vast clean energy resource that, if developed responsibly, could significantly help in the fight against climate change.

According to SACE, offshore wind energy is not only clean and renewable but, unlike coal-fired power plants or nuclear reactors, does not consume water during energy production. Studies suggest Georgia may have up to 14,500 megawatts of developable offshore wind potential—enough to provide a third of the state’s electricity needs. For every 1,000 megawatts of wind energy, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that Georgia could annually save 1,628 million gallons of water and 3 million tons of carbon dioxide. Based on studies on the European offshore wind workforce, each megawatt of offshore wind energy could support 20 jobs here in Georgia.