Dougherty County Commission Chairman, Lorenzo L. Heard, received a tour on February 1, 2023 with officials at Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany. 

Chairman Lorenzo L. Heard, Dougherty County Commission, visited Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, for a tour and an overview of the landfill gas-to-energy mission for renewable energy. Heard was accompanied by Dougherty County Administrator, Michael McCoy.

During his visit, Heard received a Base windshield tour of key Base facilities and assets for Marines, Sailors and their families. He was able to visit the Landfill Gas Generators, which is a partnership MCLB holds with Dougherty County, using methane from the nearby landfill to produce energy for the Marine Depot.

“My leadership team and I were honored to host Chairman Heard for his first visit to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany,” said MCLB Albany Commanding Officer Co. Michael Fitzgerald. “As the largest employer in Dougherty County with a $1.2 billion economic impact to the region, it was important for him to see and learn what we do here in support of the national defense strategy. Arming him with the knowledge gained from this initial visit here will give him the tools and information he needs to advocate for us on the local, state and federal levels.”

Additionally on his visit, Heard participated in a discussion on various components that led to MCLB Albany’s NetZero status to include Smart Grid Enhancement, Electrical Vehicles, Energy Resilience Conservation, and more. He also learned about the Enterprise Marine Corps Wireless Initiative and transition to 5G, an initiative where MCLB Albany was selected as a testbed for the new Smart Warehouse Technology, and which will enhance operations for the Production Plant and Marine Force Storage Command.

“Great things are happening at the MCLB,” said Lorenzo L. Heard, Chairman of the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners. “Albany, Dougherty County and Southwest Georgia are fortunate to have the Marine Corps Logistics Base, which brings great value to our region and the world. The Dougherty County Board of Commissioners commit to continuing to be a strong advocate, partner, and friend to the Base. I thank the Commanding Officer, Colonel Michael Fitzgerald, and the Marine Base Staff for a wonderful presentation.”

Information was also provided to Heard on the various major tenants and their role in national defense, as well as a discussion of Military Construction Projects currently in the works and those that are nearing completion.

“We have a long history with Dougherty County and several partnerships, one of which is the
landfill gas-to-energy program that enabled us to become the first installation in the Department
of Defense to reach Net Zero,” added Fitzgerald.