During U.S. Congressman Spencer Bachus’ visit to Chilton County on Thursday, he toured Jefferson State Community College, spoke during a luncheon at the Maplesville Senior Center and toured the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC) in Verbena.

CAEC hosted the visit as Bachus toured the West Operations, a Gold Level Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) facility.

Also in attendance of the tour were several CAEC trustees, local elected officials and economic development partners serving Chilton County.

The CAEC building is the first tenant in the Chilton County Business Park off Interstate 65 Exit 200. The 45-acre park is designed for light industrial use and is developed through a partnership with the Chilton County Commission, the Chilton County Industrial Development Board and the CAEC.

“We are excited to be part of this business park with our new operators center,” said CAEC President and CEO Tom Stackhouse in a release. “The location of this facility is key to serving our members, and we are delighted to be the first tenant to take advantage of this site in the heart of Alabama.”

The 54,249-square foot West Operations Center serves as the operation hub for crews on the west side of the cooperative’s service territory. It incorporates the latest in sustainable design, green building materials and technologies and a variety of energy-efficient features which earned it the Gold LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

“The efficiencies of this building aid us in using 40 percent less electricity than a comparable structure,” said Stackhouse. “With the prime location of the business park and the increased efficiency the West Operations Center gives us in both work flow and the cost of doing business, it is yet another advantage Chilton County offers.”