Alongside 100+ Green Mountain Energy customers and friends, Sea Turtle, Inc. officially welcomed eight new solar-powered amber street lights from the Green Mountain Energy™ Sun Club™ to their facility on Friday, July 11. This $30,000 solar project is an innovative application of solar energy for two reasons: (1) it uses batteries to store the solar energy it collects during the day to help light up the night and (2) because the lights are amber, a light frequency which the turtles’ eyes don’t detect, it helps them avoid the distraction of white lights on their path to the water.
Sea Turtle, Inc.’s Executive Director, Jeff George, said he thinks these are the first solar-powered amber lights on the Texas coast, and that he hopes other businesses start adopting them.. Attendees to the event were given special access to the Sea Turtle, Inc. facility, which rescues, rehabilitates and re-releases the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle that call South Padre Island, TX home. Jeff spoke with attendees about the importance and function of this new solar technology, as well as the role of renewable energy in his organization’s mission.
As the sun set on the Island, the light sensors triggered the solar lamps to turn on and the amber glow lit up the path leading to the future home of Sea Turtle, Inc.’s planned facility expansion. The organization is currently running a campaign to raise funds for the new education center, amphitheater, sea turtle tanks, nature walk and veterinary clinic to better serve the population of these sea turtles which return to the Island each summer to nest. Learn more about donating to this expansion.
Thanks to all that attended and supported the event from afar!
Read more in the coverage from the Valley Morning Star, watch the video and look at the photos from the event.
