Winds of Change in Gulf Shores

By Debbie Williams Reporter

Alabama's Gulf Coast is going green. Winds of Change in Gulf Shores

Published: Tue, September 23, 2008 - 3:03 pm

Debbie Williams

Alabama's Gulf Coast is going green. A first of it's kind wind turbine now has a permanent home in Gulf Shores.
It could be the first step in a more environmentally conscious community.
"It's a wind mill, it generates power" and it's Mac McAleer's pet project. "We're trying to make a little baby step here. We're trying to bring awareness to renewable energy and the need for that today."
After a little research and a 15 thousand dollar investment, the decision was made, "We 're sitting here with a breeze all day long why not use that if we can," says McAleer.
Located at Lulu's Restaurant, the turbine will generate power 24 hours a day. Enough electricity to help power the "Bama Breeze" bar at Lulu's.
"We all need to think about it we all need to do our own part what can we do?" The Gulf Coast is thinking about it. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have formed the Clean Island Initiative. Phillip West in a coastal resources manager in Orange Beach. "Green is being used in building plans across the coast, across the country this is a good mascot right now."
It's all an effort to reduce our carbon footprint and now that Lulu's has captured the wind, their next challenge is to capture the sun.
"We've got a huge roof at Lulu's and I think it has to be south facing. I'd love to see some solar panels up there," says McAleer.
When it comes to finding new ways to do things, it seems the sky is the limit.
The turbine sits on a 45 foot tall tower and will generate power whenever the wind reaches eight miles per hour or more. It's expected to save 25 to 40 percent on the restaurant's annual energy cost.