Festival of Music, Dance, and...Renewable Energy!

I was lucky enough to enjoy some beautiful Carolina fall weather last weekend at one of my favorite music festivals. The Shakori Hills Festival is held twice a year in Chatham County in a rural part of the North Carolina piedmont. This farm that hosts the festival is one of the last places you might expect to see a 10 kilowatt photovoltaic system.

Music festivals certainly have a significant environmental impact, but a few years ago a group of friends were camping at the festival when they came up with a great idea for offsetting the festival’s carbon footprint. While the site is only used periodically throughout the year, the sun shines there year-round. The goal of the Solarize Shakori Project is to provide an amount of energy to the power grid throughout the year equal to the amount used by the festivals.
According to The Abundance Foundation, “Each year Shakori Hills uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity during 2 festivals, a fiddlers convention, and other events. To offset our usage we are creating a permanent grid inter-tied solar electric system located permanently on the site.”

In October 2008 the Foundation “kicked off the project by selling photovoltaic cells and raised over $3000 during the festival. The festival attendees were so excited about participating in their own energy usage and being able to make a small donation to offset their own energy by next fall, Shakori will be carbon neutral.”

The group started by doing some research. They calculated that a “10,000 watt (10 kilowatt) photovoltaic system will produce more than 10,000 kilowatt hours/year. In this part of the country we can expect to get on average about 4 kilowatt-hours/day for every 1,000 watts of PV, so the 10 kW system could produce as much as 14,600 kilowatt-hours/year).”

They then came up with a funding plan to allow festival goers a chance to sponsor a cell. Individuals can sponsor a cell for $10 (the 10 kilowatt system will consist of 5200 cells). Corporate sponsors can purchase quarter panels, half panels, or whole panels ranging in price from $260-$1040.

I sponsored a cell last year, and was thrilled to see two panels soaking in the free energy among happy festival goers this fall! It’s amazing to see a more sustainable approach to an otherwise carbon-heavy gathering of people!

Campout! Carolina

Earth Share North Carolina is encouraging residents to show support for North Carolina’s environment by camping out the weekend of October 9th. This is the 3rd annual Campout! Carolina. Last year over 2,000 people took part in this event.

“Pitch a tent in your backyard or favorite North Carolina campsite, turn off or unplug non-essential electrical items, and enjoy an evening outdoors with family and friends.”

When you register to be counted at the event site you’ll also be entered to win 2 four day passes to the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance or a sweet tent from REI. The event site even can even help you find a place to camp.

If you don’t have camping gear, the kind folks at REI are “offering free rental of camping gear including tents, sleeping bags and backpacks on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to find the REI near you.”

Early October is a great time for camping, and it sounds like a great way to spend the weekend!