Pedal to the metal, or folk, for ECMA radio station
Last Updated: Friday, February 27, 2009 | 1:37 PM ET
CBC News
A volunteer rides a stationary bike that is helping to provide some of the power for ECMA Radio. (CBC)A stationary bicycle is playing a small but environmentally distinctive role at a convention that has brought musicians from across Atlantic Canada to western Newfoundland.
The bike is being used to generate some of the power for ECMA Radio, which is broadcasting on a local FM frequency in Corner Brook and streaming over the internet, leading up to Sunday night's East Coast Music Awards.
Each rotation on the cycle provides a little more energy to a battery, which is powering computers used for the impromptu radio station housed in the Greenwood Inn.
"I think it's fantastic. I think it's something that can be done a lot more," volunteer Justin Deering said as he rode the cycle.
"I love the idea of anyone doing anything that's about sustainability and living in harmony with nature around us. The idea of producing our own power to run something like this is great."
The East Coast Music Association opened its annual four-day conference on Thursday. ECMA Radio has been broadcasting live performances from the hotel.
Organizers are hoping to make the event more environmentally friendly, from arranging public transportation to venues to ensuring recycling bins are in constant use.
The stationary bike has been one way to involve volunteers, while teaching participants about where energy comes from.
"If we had 10 bikes, we could offset this entire radio station," said organizer Catherine Monroe, who has been pitching in on the bike as well.
"Alternative energy sources are really big these days, and basically humans are producing energy everyday, every movement that we make," she said.
"So we're trying to harness some of that energy. It's free, and we do it anyway."
The wheels on the bike will keep spinning until the ECMA conference finishes Sunday night.
Sunday's awards show will be broadcast live on bold, CBC's digital channel, at 8 p.m. AT, 8:30 p.m. NT, and over the internet at cbc.ca/eastcoastmusic. CBC Television will broadcast the show later Sunday at 11 p.m. in most of the country, 11:30 in Newfoundland.
