Solar Powered Radio

Solar Powered Radio on the horizon

A San Francisco radio station, KGO Newstalk AM 810, became the first solar powered radio station in California, with a flip of the switch by Speaker Pelosi last fall.  Solar panels were installed on the rooftop of the station’s transmitter site in Newark, California in order to offset its electric power consumption.

The popular news radio station is considered one of the top in the Bay Area.

Towers transmitting KGO Newstalk AM 810

Although the PV panel installation will only offset a portion of the 50,000 watts of power required for operations over a 24-hour period, the hope is that the high visibility of the panels will remind the approximately 80,000 commuters who drive past the building each day of solar power’s potential.

There are three solar panel arrays that can be seen from areas near the Dumbarton Bridge.  Not only will it reduce use of fossil-fuel based electricity, but Pacific Gas and Electric Company is using the KGO project to showcase renewable energy usage for its current and potential customers.

Have you seen the solar panels on the KGO rooftop?  Would they inspire you to go solar?

Tags: KGO Newstalk, san francisco radio station, solar powered radio, speaker pelosi