FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Release 9.2

Contact: Tanya Grady, PCCS, 508-247-7665, tgrady@coastalstudies.org

Green Power to the Wave Lab

Thanks to the continuing support of the Highlands Center, Inc., and the Cape Cod National Seashore along with the generosity of several parties, the Observation Station is now equipped with solar-generated electricity. This installation provides power for computers, lights, heat and future instrumentation.

"The Center for Coastal Studies' initial objective in acquiring solar panels is to provide power to the Observation Station so that shoaling wave and other environmental data can be directly recorded digitally onto a computer," says Giese. "These data play an important role in the Center's ongoing study, for the Cape Cod National Seashore, of the sediment budget of Outer Cape Cod. Using observations of the angle of wave approach, wave height and wave frequency, estimates can be made of how fast and in which direction sand moves along the shoreline at this location."

"Our future plans include communication between the station and instrumented offshore buoys and eventually acquiring the capability of uploading real time data to the internet," Giese explained. "Additionally, we envision adding AV equipment to capture sight and sound of environmental conditions and marine mammal migration activities."

Dr. Pam French, Managing Director of the Observation Station's projects, reported that initial bids for the job exceeded $19,000, which was an impossible goal for this program. Dr. Brian Kopp, owner of The Semaphore Group, a consulting engineering firm that provides communication systems design and construction related services, came to the rescue. He designed the system and came up with a budget of $5000 to buy all the necessary equipment except for the solar panels. He offered to donate his vacation time to come up from Florida and do the building and installation of the system. But the project still needed an "angel" to donate $5000 and the panels themselves.

Along came Kim Kendall, a long time friend of the Center, who saw solar panels on the wish list in Coastwatch, the Center's newsletter. She and her husband, Murray Liebman, who work closely with the solar industry through their firm, Liebman Associates of Washington, DC, contacted Roger Little of Spire Corporation in Acton, Massachusetts. Little graciously agreed to donate two solar panels to the Center. In addition, Liebman Associates generously donated $2500 to fund the project, and that, along with $2500 donated by Highlands Center, Inc., completed the requirements.

On July 26 Brian Kopp flew in from Florida with tools in hand. With help from Graham, Pam and Chief Observer David Spang, they bought the parts, assembled the components and installed the system. Now, we are proud to say the lights are on!

Requests for additional information or visits to the Observation Station may be addressed to Tanya Grady, tgrady@coastalstudies.org.

Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting marine mammals and ecosystems in the Gulf of Maine and beyond through applied research, education, public policy initiatives and management strategies.

The mission of the Highlands Center at Cape Cod National Seashore is to foster the unique cultural and natural heritage of Cape Cod by engaging in an environment within a national park setting in which physical and biological scientific research, artistic creation, and educational programs can flourish. The Highlands Center is an innovative partnership between the National Park Service and park partner organizations. The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies is one of seven such organizations.