Robins, Georgia Power agreement to go beyond conservation Published June 5, 2009 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Robins has succeeded through conservation in reducing its projected energy needs, but now the base is aiming to go beyond conservation. The base signed an agreement with Georgia Power May 28 to join a team that will explore options for energy alternatives for powering the vast operations here. One of those options could be development of a power plant at the base that would capture energy waste and convert it to power, said Col Warren Berry, commander of the 78th Air Base Wing. In a ceremony at the Museum of Aviation, Colonel Berry and Georgia Power CEO Michael Garrett signed an agreement to form the team to explore energy options at Robins. "I wanted to be here today to show support for my team and to show the leadership of the base that we are serious about the document we are about to sign," Mr. Garrett said. "This is a lot more than just a document we are signing. It is a commitment to involve a lot of people over a short period of time to put this base as at the forefront." Colonel Berry said conservation efforts have cut the base's annual power bill by $1 million, but he said conservation alone will not be enough for it to meet the mandates by Congress to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources. Colonel Berry said the purpose of the team is the "explore what is in the realm of the possible." The agreement calls for the teams to develop recommendations within 120 days. "At the end of the day, knowing that conservation only gets us so far, we have chosen our partner to join us in our journey to figure out how we can collectively and creatively meet these mandates that are before us," he said. "We know that at the end of 120 days, we will have a success story and will be able to enter in some more robust negotiations with Georgia Power on exactly what this program will look like and how it will take shape." The event was significant enough that several local elected officials attended, including State Sen. Ross Tolleson, R-Perry, State Rep. Tony Sellier, R-Fort Valley and Houston County Commission Chairman Ned Sanders. "We've worked hard over the last few years to create a team here and try to make Robins Air Force Base energy independent from the outside world," Sen. Tolleson said. "That's our goal in time from a national security standpoint and for Robins Air Force Base to create more missions here. Alternative energy is very much on the forefront and Georgia Power has been very progressive in what they are doing."