Expo energizes commitment to reduce

  • Published
  • By Mike Spaits
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander, turned up the heat at Eglin's Energy Expo Oct. 21 without ever touching a thermostat. 

Doing his best "Speed Racer" imitation, Colonel McClintock sidled into the Eglin Main Exchange parking lot driving a brand-new, all-electric, 'Arrest-Me Red,' Tesla Roadster in front of dozens of awe-struck pedestrians - fresh from a 120 mph test drive on Eglin's runway. 

The Energy Expo gave thousands of base exchange visitors a look at the future of energy use here. The car, price tagged at more than $100,000, was just one of many loaners on display by Gulf Power and Eglin's four other partners in the Expo that displayed innovative vehicles and other products that are available to consumers to reduce energy consumption. The other partners were Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative, Okaloosa Gas and the Eglin Recycling Center. 

"This Expo is really just the beginning of exciting things the Eglin Energy Management office has planned to help the base meet the DOD-mandated energy reduction goals," said Teresa Jordan, Eglin Energy Management chief. 

"The efforts we make will become more and more visible, and more and more commonplace in the near future," she said. 

Each participating organization at the expo had educational displays and handouts to encourage and show how to reduce energy consumption. 

In addition to the displays and handouts, Colonel McClintock addressed the crowd and thanked everyone for making energy stewardship a priority in their work and lives and challenged them to continue their efforts. 

"I do have a passion for energy stewardship and conservation," said Colonel McClintock. "It is not about doing things that protect our world for future generations; resource stewardship is also a near term national security issue. Efficiently using our limited resources, including energy, helps us work towards energy independence and ensures our prosperity. If you could do anything to reduce your energy use while maintaining the same standard of living, then really, why wouldn't you." 

The colonel then presented $50 gift certificates to the Eglin Main Exchange to four children from Eglin Elementary School. The children were all winners in an energy conservation poster contest sponsored by the energy management office. 

He also presented three base employees with prize bags for their winning ideas and suggestions on how the base can reduce energy use. The prize bags were donations from Gulf Power.