Monday, June 6, 2011

Solar To Help Power Clinton, TN Station

Rooftop panels will help power Clinton radio station WYSH 1380 AM

It's just as well a tepid economy and some bureaucratic red tape delayed his plans to become one of the first radio stations in the country to convert to solar power, Ron Meredith tells Bob Fowler at knoxnews.com.

During the months the project was put on hold, solar power technology advanced so much he'll now be able to generate another kilowatt of electricity, he said.

Workers this week are installing brackets for 36 solar panels that will go on the roof of the headquarters for Meredith's Radio Station WYSH 1380 AM.

When the system goes on line, the panels should produce 9 kilowatts of electricity, enough to power the station during the day.

Ron Meredith, owner of Radio Station WYSH 1380 AM in Clinton, is having solar panels installed on the roof of the station, which sits on a ridgetop. They should generate enough kilowatts of electricity to power the station during the day.

Overall, Meredith estimates he'll slice his power bills in half - perhaps more - once he goes solar.

"I'm excited about it," said Meredith, who purchased WYSH in 1990.

He also owns WGAP 1400 AM in Maryville and WMYL FM 96.7 in Halls. Programming for those sister stations originates in Clinton, he said.

The Clinton station is perched on a ridgetop more than 1,300 feet higher than the average surrounding terrain, and it gets sun all day, he said.

Meredith said his conversion to solar energy isn't because he's a tree-hugger. While it's the right thing to do for the environment, it also makes good business sense, he said.

"I've always been energy-conscious and I don't see a time when energy costs will go down," he said. "The more technology we use at the station, the more energy we use."

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