Summer 2010 issue--Rehoboth Beach businesses have joined forces to showcase their green intentions. The Rehoboth Beach Chamber of Commerce now has a “Green Force” that businesses can join, and more than 100 have done so since its inception last July. The businesses have done everything from implementing recycling plans and installing solar panels to selling green products. The Chamber has also secured land for their Destination Station Center, a 501c(3) non-profit founded by the Chamber that has been in the works for years.
“The Chamber has many task forces,” explained Carol Everhart, “and the Green Force is one of them. And, certainly, they will be a vital part of Destination Station.”
According to the Chamber, they are “identifying members who cater to greening by recycling, the sale/use of environmentally sensitive products and procedures, or other earth-friendly services in any way.”
The Force is made up of green lodging facilities, spas with 100 percent natural and organic products, businesses with “green roofs” to help with heating and cooling, green builders, eco-real estate brokers, and businesses that have installed solar panels or that install renewable energy products.
They met for the first time last July and have identified their top priorities as solar energy, a recycling program, geo-thermal systems, wind energy and other energy-saving products and green products.
Since then, they have been instrumental in an Earth Day shredding event and trade shows, and they have produced a survey to gain more input from area businesses. Questions on the survey include whether those businesses would be interested in partnering with other businesses, if they would be interested in “green branding” products with the Chamber and whether they favor the plan to create an energy exploratory attraction.
“We saw there was a need, as with Destination Station, and thought maybe we need to bring these groups together,” shared Everhart.
She explained that the Green Force will “certainly” be a large part of Destination Station, a center Everhart describes as being “a science center about alternative energy and technology, with programs and hands-on, always-changing exhibits.” According to the Chamber, it would be Delaware’s first energy and technology attraction.
The group’s Web site describes the vision as having three parts: “The Exploratory and Science Center ‘green building’ structure offers location and connection to transportation. This building provides a model of working alternative energy in action and is part of the show. The Chamber of Commerce provides built-in marketing to connect schools, residents, and visitors.”
The transportation element includes the connection to DART’s fleet of buses, some fueled by alternative biodiesel/solar-cell sources, “and the Exploratory models energy conservation will help the hub serve to encourage increased ridership from and to the facility and throughout the resort area, assisting with traffic reduction and providing additional parking.”
As for visitor and resident services, the facility “will answer the increasing demands of the visitor and resident for family/child programmed activities, expanded technology, gathering areas for civic organizations, exhibit space, public restrooms, a transit hub and Visitors’ Center expansion.”
“That’s what we are after,” she said, likening it to an Epcot Center-type destination.
Dennis Spivak, deputy attorney general for the state of Delaware, said at a recent chamber meeting that the facility represents “the best of how the public and private sector should work,” and he praised DelDOT employees for their work on the project planning.
Kay Wheatly of the Chamber announced at that same meeting that a 1.75-acre parcel had been secured at the current Park-and-Ride parcel, which is centrally located and is adjacent to and between County Road 273 and 273A in Rehoboth Beach. They said the secure long-term land lease will allow them to start fundraising and due diligence. They have goals of, at minimum, a 50,000-square-foot facility at a proposed construction cost of $12 million to $14 million.
“I hope you are excited as we are,” said Wheatley to her audience.
For more information or to see an aerial view of the site, visit www.destinationstationcenter.com. For more information on the Chamber’s Green Force, visit http://www.beach-fun.com.
