SPANISH FORT, Alabama—The Original Oyster House installed a wind turbine yesterday at their Causeway restaurant location to cut power costs and demonstrate their commitment to clean energy.  

“This is our 30th year in business, and Baldwin and Mobile counties have been very generous in supporting our restaurants,” said Joe Roszkowski, president of the business, which also has a Gulf Shores location. “We expect the wind turbine to help offset our energy costs, taking advantage of natural energy as we are a total electric restaurant. We feel that turning the beautiful bay breeze into productive energy is the right thing to do—what a beautiful resource.”

While business leaders and others watched on Dec. 13, the wind turbine was lifted and installed on a 45-foot-high tower.  It will work 24 hours per day by generating power whenever winds reach eight miles per hour or greater.

The windmill is the latest effort of the restaurant to use sustainable practices at their business. In 2010, they began converting all used frying oil into biodiesel to fuel company vehicles.

“About a year after we started making biodiesel, we began talking about installing a wind turbine at the Causeway to take advantage of the beautiful bay breeze,” he said. “There was quite a bit of preplanning and expense involved in obtaining the appropriate permits to put up the turbine. “

The wind turbine at the Spanish Fort location joins other wind turbines in Baldwin County at LuLu’s at Homeport Marina and restaurant in Gulf Shores and The Windmill Market in Fairhope, as well as a few residential windmills at homes in Bon Secour and Fairhope, said Robert Harris of Gulf Coast Green Power in Fairhope.

Like other county businesses with wind turbines, the Original Oyster House will use its green technology as an educational tool.

“We are partnering with the Gulf Coast Exploreum to help educate children of all ages on the positive effects of green energy through the STEAM movement, which joins Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math,” Roszkowski said. “The Original Oyster House will host field trips for area schools so children can see green energy firsthand.”

The business is also adding solar water heaters at both the Causeway and Gulf Shores locations.

“We’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do, for our environment, our children and their children,” he said.