Solar panels power renewable energy tour
At a recent downtown Palatine Farmers Market, something stood out against the usual produce, fresh baked bread and flowers.
It was a giant, solar-paneled bus anchoring one end of the market.
People stopped to look at it, ask questions and point it out to their kids.
Officially, the big vehicle is called Rolling Sunlight and it's being shown around the country by Greenpeace.
The bus features 256 square feet of solar photovoltaic panels, which could supply enough energy to power three energy-efficient houses, organizers said.
"I think it's great," said Palatine resident William Ceisel. "I'm looking into doing some solar panels on my house."
People know what the term "solar energy" is, he says, but don't really understand until they get involved.
In Palatine, everyone who stopped by the vehicle received a free smoothie made in a blender powered by solar energy.
The bus is touring the country to promote renewable energy. Greenpeace organizers want people to know global warming, which many scientists believe is exacerbated by the burning of oil, coal and gas, threatens the future of our planet.
By helping reduce global warming, they said, there might be less of an impact from droughts, floods and the destruction of coral reefs.
The tour coincides with an initiative called Project Hot Seat, a national campaign using grassroots efforts to reach government leaders about the effects of global warming.
As such, everyone at the Palatine market -- and a stop in Barrington earlier that week -- was asked to write a letter to U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean urging the importance of alternative energy sources.
Palatine resident Roberta Johanson wrote a letter to Bean at the event.
"I believe in doing all we can to help stop global warming," she said.
For more information, visit projecthotseat.org.