By Stephanie Springer - bio | email
TIFTON, GA (WALB) –Hundreds of folks from all over the country are in Tifton this week for the 5th annual Southeast Bioenergy Conference.
Exhibitors are showcasing alternative energy sources and promoting energy efficiency.
Energy, its on the minds of hundreds of folks this week in Tifton. "Sixty percent of the oil we use to fight the war in Afghanistan and Iraq is foreign oil so if we ever lost our fuel supply we would die as a country," said Rep. Jack Kingston.
What better place to learn about alternative energy than at the 5th annual Southeast Bioenergy Conference. "American power for American people, that's what we are about," said Richard Worth, CEO of the Greenworth Group.
Its brought in exhibitors, state leaders, and those just downright passionate about finding an alternative source of fuel. "This is a wake up call for America we've got the tools we've got the talent," said Worth.
The Governor says we are seeing a birth of a whole new industry in Georgia and that's growing our own energy. "We are taking the productive land around Tifton and Georgia and growing biomass which instead of just feeding us and clothing us is really going to be the potential for growing our energy," said Gov. Perdue.
And its no longer just a vision its a reality. "We are now on the path to becoming energy independent and bio fuels is the first and most important step," said Rep. Sanford Bishop.
Exhibitors are showcasing new and innovative ideas, like Dan Everett who works for Power Partners. "Instead of using electricity to run the chillers they use waste heat or solar thermal heat," said Everett.
That will someday, if not already, help America become energy independent.
Some attendees say over the years the conference has attracted a new crowd. At first it was the curiosity seeker and now its someone ready to make a move.
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