'American Idol' Finale Show Powered by Renewable Energy

As part of Fox's plan to be more planet friendly, "American Idol's" two-part season finale is being powered by renewable energy. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will provide a combination of solar, wind and hydropower energy for the season finale held at the the 7,100-seat Nokia Theatre.

With its solar-powered air conditioner, AquaCell Technologies will cool the air at the "American Idol" season finale VIP Party at the Nokia Theater.

David Cook is one of two finalists whose fate will be decided by the American Idol fans. (Photo courtesy American Idol)

The GreenCore solar-powered air conditioner combines the most efficient photovoltaic technology with a DC engineered air conditioning innovation to provide climate control that does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and global warning.

School children in Los Angeles will receive the solar electric system used in the red carpet media arrivals area of tonight's "American Idol" finale show. E-Village, a San Diego based company, will provide solar power in the red carpet area. After tonight's show, E-Village will donate the 2.3 kilowatt solar photovoltaic panel electric system and its installation to the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy to be used with an educational curriculum provided by the Solar 4R Schools program.

Camino Nuevo Charter Academy was founded in August 2000 by Pueblo Nuevo Development, a nonprofit community development corporation in the MacArthur Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, one of the poorest and most densely populated neighborhoods in the city. Most of the residents are immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

The academy's mission is to provide an outstanding and enriched educational opportunity as well as revitalizing the neighborhood and making it a safe and healthy place to live. The school is already known for its award-winning recycling program.

Camino Nuevo now has three locations - all with waiting lists. Two locations serve kindergarten through eighth grade students, and one is a high school.

The high school is probably going to be the location for the solar system, says Yolanda Sanchez, Camino Nuevo's communications and compliance manager. The school has asked for a site visit from the solar installers to make sure that the system will work in the high school location.

David Archuleta is one of two finalists whose fate will be decided by the American Idol fans. (Photo courtesy American Idol)

The solar system will help students learn about solar energy, and it will also serve a wider purpose, Sanchez said.

"One of our missions is to educate our students to be agents of social change," she said. "The solar system will help in making them conscious of the greater good in the neighborhood and the world. It definitely ties in."

The Solar 4R Schools program, developed and managed by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, delivers hands-on experience with solar systems to students, parents, educators, utilities, installers, and municipalities across the United States. In classrooms, the program provides curriculum, activities and real-time data monitoring of the solar systems.

The most comprehensive solar schools program in the country, Solar 4RS has installed solar-electric systems in nearly 100 schools in 16 states.

The 10 year old Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a Portland, Oregon nonprofit organization, generates revenues from the sale of green power products. Revenues generated from its sales of Green Tags for renewable energy directly support additional new watershed restoration and renewable energy projects.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.