Solar trailer to power Cherry Royale Parade broadcast

TRAVERSE CITY – Northern Michigan residents far beyond downtown Front Street will be able to enjoy the annual Cherry Royale Parade on July 10 thanks to NMC’s solar energy trailer and a partnership with the UpNorthMedia Center.

The mobile unit will power a temporary control room near Cass and Front streets that will house UpNorth Media’s broadcast operations for the parade, one of the biggest events of the National Cherry Festival.

It’s the second year the public access provider has covered the parade, which Charter Cable customers from Manistee to the Mackinac Bridge can watch on channel 97 (analog) or 2 (digital) as well as online at www.upnorthmedia.org. This year, however, the sale of the adjacent building, which provided power in 2009, presented a logistical challenge, said Joe Carter, UpNorth Media program coordinator.

The Front-Cass intersection is by the judges’ stand, meaning most parade participants perform there. But with the real estate transaction in process, UpNorth Media couldn’t count on power from the building.

“The big deal is the location. We get a better television show and we were reluctant to move, (but) you’ve got to have power,” Carter said.

Enter the solar trailer, part of NMC’s Energy Demonstration Center. Built in 2007 as a roving “solar classroom,” it uses four solar panels and has a capacity of generating 640 watts under full sun. This energy is then stored in batteries to be used as needed 24/7, said Bill Queen, NMC Energy program coordinator.

For the parade, it will power the camera control units, video switcher, audio mixer, monitors, computers and headsets that UpNorth Media’s 12 volunteers will need to broadcast the three-and-a-half-hour parade. Even if it rains on the parade, the batteries will be fully charged prior to the event, Queen said. The solar trailer will provide other advantages to parade watchers, he added.

“This quiet, clean power will help run the broadcast without the disrupting smells and sounds of fossil-generated power, thus enabling the parade performers and audiences to enjoy the show,” he said.

In addition to fitting the “green” nature of northern Michigan, Carter said it’s another example of how local people and organizations help each other.

“One of the wonderful things that goes on in northern Michigan is cooperation from all sorts of partners,” Carter said.

Besides powering the parade broadcast, NMC will have a large contingent marching in the Cherry Royale Parade. Watch for alumni, a student fencing group, an unmanned aerial vehicle from the Aviation Division, a Hagerty Center float featuring live grilling (samples to be passed to the crowd) and more.

About NMC’s renewable energy programs: NMC is a leader in renewable energy education in Michigan, offering both for-credit degree programs and non-credit classes in multiple renewable energy technologies. Non-credit offerings include short courses for consumers and intensive workforce development courses for professionals. Credit offerings are also aimed at students interested in a career in a renewable energy field. Learn more.

About The UpNorth Media Center: The Center provides access to video media to residents of Northwest Michigan through public access cablecasting on UpNorth TV (Charter Cable analog channel 97 and digital channel 2), government access cablecasting on Government TV (Charter Cable analog channel 99 and digital channel 994) and through the web. The UpNorth Media Center is administered by LIAA (www.LIAA.org), a non-profit service organization dedicated to helping build sustainable communities through participation, information, and the effective use of technology. 

Release date: July 6, 2010

For more information:

NMC: Paul Heaton, Director of Public Relations, (231) 995-1019 or Bill Queen, Energy Program Coordinator, (231) 995-1701
UpNorth Media Center: Joe Carter, (231) 929-3696

 

Academic
Programs