Electric car charging stations could be coming to Tybee Island
TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTGS) — If you're driving around Tybee Island and see a blue and orange car with a sea turtle on it, it's part of a new partnership to increase clean energy on the island.
Tim Echols, the vice chair of Georgia's Public Service Commission, visited Tybee Island Friday to work on increasing sustainability.
"I want to help Savannah and Tybee accomplish their clean energy goals," he said.
RELATED:GA Public Commissioner Echols presented key to City of Tybee
Echols is working with Savannah Alderman Nick Palumbo and Tybee Mayor Shirley Sessions to expand solar power on buildings.
"Tybee has always been on the verge, in the middle of change, and trying to lead that. I think that is what we will continue to see, and I think our public, our visitors, especially our residents and businesses want to see that," said Sessions.
"We know that solar technology, by the time we get to 2035, is going to make a huge difference in our state. So it's all about shaping that and trying to direct those investments and that energy right here," said Palumbo.
Another goal for the initiative is seeing more electric cars on Tybee. Echols plans to work with Georgia Power to install e-car charging stations in the parking lot of the new Marine Science Center on the north end of Tybee.
RELATED:A look inside the new $7.5 M Tybee Marine Science Center
"Amazingly, there are no electric vehicle chargers here and I'm working with Georgia Power to change that," said Echols.
Friday, he handed off the keys to the blue and orange electric car to Mayor Sessions, hoping to raise awareness on the island for e-cars and their benefits.
"It only makes sense that if you're in a car that's driving around at 20 miles an hour all day, it's not going very far, it's idling half the day, that should be an electric car," said Echols.
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He said this push for clean energy will make the community green in more ways than one.
"It's about helping people be better stewards of both their dollars, their energy, and there's some feel-good that goes along with that as you do good things for the environment," said Echols.
He hopes to have electric car charging decks on Tybee in the next six months.
