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Aiken County's 2009 J. Mitchell Graham Presentation
     
 
 
August 6, 2009

Aiken County participated in the Annual J. Mitchell Graham Contest which was held Thursday, July 30th during the South Carolina Association of Counties Annual Conference in Hilton Head, SC. This competition is an effort to recognize outstanding achievements by county governments in South Carolina.

The County's presentation was titled, Clean Energy: A Community Initiative. The presentation was given by Fred Humes, Executive Director of the Economic Development Partnership. The team that put this wonderful presentation together included Clay Killian, County Administrator; Fred Humes, Todd Glover, Assistant County Administrator; Brian Sanders, Assistant County Administrator and Chris Ceasar, Public Information Officer. Of course the County's IT staff assisted us whenever there was a need.

One of the most pressing issues facing our nation today is energy independence, an issue that has far reaching implications for the entire world. We have seen the impact of rising costs for energy on our individual budgets, but the effect on county government operations, as well as private business and industry, has been even more dramatic.

Our presentation dealt with hydrogen research. Aiken County's Center for Hydrogen Research (CHR) has become the cornerstone for an expanding and exciting program for development of alternative energy sources to improve our community, state and ultimately, our nation's stance in the global market place.

To build on the success of the CHR, Aiken County Council decided to construct a hydrogen fueling station at Sage Mill Industrial Park, developed an Education, Training and Development Laboratory within the CHR and added a 20 Kilowatt solar energy array. County Council saw this commitment to technology transfer as a means to benefit the community, attract new companies, and leverage existing resources.

The Center for Hydrogen Research is the only county-owned facility of its kind in the United States and it provides the only location, of which we are aware, that houses national laboratory researchers and private sector scientists under one roof.

The County's presentation was wonderful. Our information was timely, precise and innovative. But, alas, we did not win!  Although not winning does not deter us! We will be back next year. Aiken County has won this prestigious award twice, 1974 and 1986. 

 

Hydrogen Fueled Truck

Center for Hydrogen Research

Solar Panels at Research Park

Solar Panels at Center for Hydrogen Research

Sage Mill Hydrogen Fueling Station

Ribbon Cutting at Sage Mill Hydrogen Fueling Station

Education, Training, and Development Lab at the Center for Hydrogen Research

 

 
 
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