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Solar 'farm' to power part of post
solarfarm
Backed up by some of the solar panels, Fort Stewart, Department of Army and state officials cut the ribbon on the Fort Stewart solar array. - photo by Photo by Dan Scott
Staff Report
Updated: Dec 15, 2016, 2:42 PM
Published: Dec 15, 2016, 2:51 PM

The U.S. Army and Georgia Power cut a ribbon Friday on a new 250-acre solar farm on Fort Stewart that is expected to ultimately provide almost a third of the post’s electricity each year.

The 30-megawatt solar farm was built and is owned and operated by Georgia Power, and "is estimated to represent a $75 million investment at the installation," according to the company. It includes approximately 139,200 4-foot by 6-foot solar panels and is capable of powering 4,300 homes a year.

The solar farm is expected to go into operation by the spring, according to Fort Stewart.

Among those present at Friday’s ribbon cutting was Katherine Hammack, the Army’s assistant secretary for installations, energy and the environment. She said the solar farm is cost effective, environmentally safe and supports the Army in its mission while reducing its reliance on the power grid.

"What this means is resiliency for the Army," said Hammack, one of several officials who spoke at the groundbreaking.

Fort Stewart and 3rd Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Jim Rainey also spoke.

"I am clearly both the least knowledgeable person on this topic and the least responsible for this great success," Rainey said. "And based on that I defer most of my time to our great teammates."

But before he stepped away from the microphone, the post’s top officer talked about relationships.

"I heard it said relationships are the No. 1 determiner of quality of life. I didn’t know that. I do know they’re the No. 1 determiner of success on the battlefield, and probably the No. 1 reason this is the best place I ever served in the Army," Rainey said. "I know every guy says that who’s here, but I mean it. You’ve just got to take my word for it. I’ve been a lot of places. I’ve been to some great places. But I’ve never been anywhere where the community, local leadership, elected and private, could come together and do something so effortlessly of such significance."

Also speaking was Public Service Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, who called the solar farm here part of a renaissance that includes two nuclear energy plants currently under construction "that will carry energy for the next 60 to 80 years."

This is the third 30-megawatt solar farm being built by Georgia Power on an Army base in the state. The company has also built similar facilities on Fort Gordon in Augusta and Fort Benning in Columbus, and has worked with the Department of the Navy to build a solar farm at the Kings Bay submarine base.

A fifth solar farm for the Marines Corps Logistics Base in Albany is also under way, according to Georgia Power.

Dan Scott and Jeff Whitten contributed to this report.

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Exchange Service salutes Vietnam vets with custom truck design
Army and Air Force Exchange Service redesigned logo 2011
Bryan County News
Published: Apr 10, 2018, 1:53 PM

To thank Vietnam veterans for their sacrifices, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is debuting a new truck design, part of the Department of Defense retailer’s efforts alongside the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration to honor veterans during the 50th anniversary of the war.

“The Exchange is privileged to have the opportunity to recognize Vietnam veterans through our fleet,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era. “These trucks will serve as rolling billboards, expressing gratitude for all who served during this era.”

The truck design features the silhouette of a lone service member set against the background of a faded horizon with a call to “thank a Vietnam veteran for service to our nation.” The single military member represents the warfighters who served during this time.

Three trucks in the fleet feature the commemorative design and will deliver merchandise to Exchange stores from the organization’s distribution centers in the continental United States.

The West Coast Distribution Center at Sharpe Army Depot in California; Dan Daniel Distribution Center in Newport News, Va.; and the Waco Distribution Center in Texas will each have a truck in service on their standard delivery routes, serving the whole country.

Air Force veteran Pat Thompson served in Vietnam before coming to the Exchange as a truck driver and mechanic. In his 18 years with the Exchange, he has deployed four times to support the troops. The new design means a lot to him.

“They remember,” said Thompson, who is based at the Exchange’s Waco Distribution Center. “We want to be remembered.”

The trucks also highlight the veteran online shopping benefit, which launched in November. The lifelong online military exchange benefit authorizes all who served honorably to enjoy tax-free shopping and exclusive military pricing at ShopMyExchange.com.

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a program administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The U.S. began commemoration of the Vietnam War’s 50th anniversary in 2012 and will continue through Veterans Day 2025.

The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize Vietnam veterans and their families for service, valor and sacrifice in conjunction with the commemoration.

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