Yet another reason Atlanta doesn’t understand south Georgia:
military enlistment is 1 in 100 people in south Georgia from
Columbus to Valdosta, and less than a third of that in the Atlanta Metro area.
Enlistment is probably related to two other major features
of south Georgia that Atlanta doesn’t understand:
it’s agricultural (traditionally a bastion of military supporters),
and it’s poor (and enlisting is one way to a career).
A certain pipeline company may not have taken this factor
into account, either. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Air Force
Solar project underway at Robins Air Force Base
WCTV via AP 5 October 2014, Solar project underway at Robbins Air Force Base,
The Telegraph reports that land has been cleared on a 57-acre tract near Georgia Highway 247 to make room for solar panels.
Wayne Crenshaw wrote for the Telegraph 3 October 2014, and spelled Robins Air Force Base correctly, Solar array project changes landscape south of Robins,
Previously the 57-acre tract next to Ga. 247 just south of the Museum of Aviation was forestland, but those trees have been cut down over the past month to make way for the solar array….
But what would probably catch people’s eye the most is Continue reading
10 MW solar power at Robins Air Force Base
Somebody got a jump on Georgia Power for Air Force base solar installation.
Wayne Crenshaw wrote for The Telegraph 23 July 2014, Air Force signs deal for solar array at Robins,
The Air Force has inked a deal with a company that plans to build a 50-acre solar array at Robins Air Force Base.
New Generation Power has signed Continue reading
USAF Environmental Assessment about Val Del Road Moody Housing parcel
The Air Force prepared an Environmental Assessment about the Moody Housing parcel on Val Del Road, but hasn’t made it public. There was a comment period, but that’s expired now.
This announcement apparently has appeared in the VDT since July,
according to Michael Noll:
The EA is not available online anywhere I’ve looked. This would be the same Air Force that wondered if Lowndes County put stuff online.
To comment, or for more information, contact Mr. Allen Richmond, AFCEC NEPA Center of Excellence Program Manager, by mail at AFCEC/CZN, 2261 Hughes Ave., Lackland AFB, TX 78236-9853, or call (210) 395-8885.
No answer at that number when I called it just now.
The U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) posted this 25 March 2013, NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, Continue reading
No mold or unpaid contractors this time for Moody Housing @ GLPC 2013-07-29
Unlike Moody AFB’s last go at privatizing housing,
no mold or unpaid contractors this time,
or so we’re told.
But not so solid assurances that local contractors will be used.
And what if this new thing turns into something radically different
like Nelson Hill did only a short way up Val Del?
Speaking for that proposed privatized Moody housing on Val Del Road, Lawyer Tom Kurrie said this was “an opportunity for our community”. He spelled out that the proposal was “90 homes for off-base houses, for enlisted personnel, non-commissioned officers, and officers”, with gates. He went on about Balfour Beatty‘s experience in building such housing, and their option to build Phase II, although at the moment they’re only requesting Phase I. He said “the unfortunate issue that took place with the prior development” would not occur with this one.
I can guess he’s referring to the mold issue,
Beth Mahoney detailed in Little Rock Military Families Examiner 6 April 2009.
Or since he lauded Balfour Beatty’s credit rating, maybe
he was referring to the
nonpayment of subcontractors,
as Kari L. Sands wrote for VDT, 4 March 2007,
Military housing woes:
Non-payment forces work on military housing project to stop.
Preferred Builders and Renovators, LLC., the Home Builders Association of South Georgia and CMS/ Dumpster Co. are among those affected. Subcontractors are alleging that Continue reading
Gated Moody housing on Val Del Road, REZ-2013-09 @ GLPC 2013-07-29
Only 81 of 396 proposed units have been built at current Moody Family
Housing on Roberts Road.
Why should we build more on Val Del Road?
At the 29 July 2013 Greater Lowndes Planning Commission meeting, County Planner Jason Davenport said that in addition to the initial materials for GLPC, he’d provided an update about Magnolia Grove, which was Phase I of Moody Family Housing. The real reason for the rezoning wasn’t stated in the initial materials given to GLPC. In the materials obtained through open records request, we can see that the GLPC agenda item contained the boilerplate “The general motivation in this case appears to be so that the subject property can be developed at a greater residential density.” In the update it’s assumed that the real reason is housing for Moody personnel, since Magnolia Grove is the existing Moody housing off of Roberts Road. Which isn’t even built out yet, as you can see in this map from the county Tax Commissioners, so why does Moody need more housing?
Lots of interesting back history in that July 29th GLPC Lowndes County Rezoning Update – 2, to which I’ve added Continue reading
TRC and GLPC recommended subdivision that doesn’t improve traffic or safety, REZ-2013-09
What is so important about yet another subdivision
of
360,910 square feet in 173 houses
when we have
a glut of houses that the TRC unanimously
recommended it despite significant defects and omissions?
According to
Technical Review Committee (TRC) analysis,
REZ-2013-09 Moody Family will not lessen congestion in the streets
or secure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers.
TRC also said the application didn’t meet ULDC standards and
in somewhat tortured language:
“although not a proposed condition, it should be
noted on this request that a future traffic study will be required.”
Why not require these things before even sending the application
to the Planning Commission?
In email to the Greater Lowndes Planning Commissioners of 23 July 2013, forwarded to the applicants 29 July 2013, July 29th GLPC Lowndes County Rezoning Materials,
2) REZ-2013-09 Moody Family, 0072 191, Val Del Rd, 64.92 ac., 2 lots, R-1 to Residential PD, County Utilities
a) The TRC recommended approval of the request unanimously.
b) Additionally, although not a proposed condition, it should be noted on this request that a future traffic study will be required. Acceleration lanes/Deceleration lanes and/or a dedicated left turn lane may be required.
Rumor has it that this development is being pushed not by Moody AFB, rather by Continue reading
Veterans for clean energy: Operation Free
Tired of expensive gas? Tired of expensive wars? Let’s get off of oil and onto clean renewable energy! That’s the message from Operation Free, a campaign of the Truman Project.
Mission: Secure America with Clean Energy.
Iraq War veteran Terron Sims said clean energy and veterans is a part of the “modern form of American exceptionalism.”
Here’s the video:
Pullquote:
“In Iraq… the lines would stretch up to ten miles long under the hot sun, under constant risk of attack by extremists. I realized then just how vulnerable it makes any country to be dependent on oil, especially the United States, which uses nearly a quarter of the world’s supply.”
The U.S. military is already leading us towards renewable energy. 
The Air Force, for example, has a goal of 25% of facility energy use from renewable energy by 2025, and Moody AFB is helping with that. Imagine if a substantial part of the military’s budget was repurposed to implementing renewable energy throughout the country to get us off of foreign oil. Now that would be national security!
And we don’t have to wait for Washington or Atlanta to get on with it right here in Lowndes County, for security, environmental preservation, jobs, and profit.
-jsq
Solar thermal for Moody AFB
Moody AFB helps USAF lead the military and the country in solar installations
by adding solar thermal.
Did you know?
Did you know?
Federal mandates require that 25% of Air Force facility energy use comes from renewable energy sources by 2025 and Moody will help….It’s a shame we have to go to Binghamton and Ithaca, New York, to get the equipment. You’d think we could build solar thermal hot water heaters right here in sunny south Georgia, and install them, too. The architect, however, was local. Congratulations to Moody AFB and Slone Associates for installing solar hot water!
The installer, Intelligent Green Solutions (IGS) of Ithaca, New York,
has the details:
The installation is a large solar thermal system that includes:The completion target date was end of December.
- 20 TitanPowerPlus 2.0 Flat Plate Solar Collectors
- 512 Gallon Solar Hot Water Storage Tanks
SunMaxx Solar press release of 29 Jan 2012, SunMaxx Solar and Intelligent Green Solutions Install Solar Thermal System at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia, Continue reading
Georgia and Florida Railway (GFRR) – Valdosta to Willacoochee Rehabilitation $6.25 million T-SPLOST
Now here’s a T-SPLOST project I like:
upgrading the railroad that runs
from Valdosta to Moody AFB
and on to Ray City and Nashville in Berrien County,
and Willacoochee in Atkinson County.
This proposal is to aid freight, but with this upgrade to the track,
the same track would be even more readily usable for passenger rail.
That same track was used for passenger travel up into the 1950s.
My mother used to catch the train at Barretts (just north of Moody) to go visit her relatives in Pearson (a bit east of Willacoochee).
from Valdosta to Moody AFB
and on to Ray City and Nashville in Berrien County,
and Willacoochee in Atkinson County.
This proposal is to aid freight, but with this upgrade to the track,
the same track would be even more readily usable for passenger rail.
That same track was used for passenger travel up into the 1950s.
My mother used to catch the train at Barretts (just north of Moody) to go visit her relatives in Pearson (a bit east of Willacoochee).It’s true the project sheet talks about “potential customers in the region”:
This project will provide for more efficient train operations along the rail corridor to accommodate the increase rail traffic serving the existing and potential customers in the region.However, rail promotes development in existing population centers and at stations, unlike all along automobile roadways.
This project is also another example of how the economic area of Moody AFB includes Continue reading