A 100% “Green” Delivery Trip
On September 29, 2015, Solar Sal, a 40-foot solar-powered boat, set sail from Lockport, New York. It embarked on a voyage along the Erie Canal towards Mechanicville, due to arrive at its destination on October 13 without having consumed a single drop of fuel! It will deliver its cargo of bales of recycled cardboard to the local Cascades Tissue Group plant.
This journey of over 300 miles is made possible by 16 solar panels, which can produce up to 5 kilowatts of power. This is more energy than necessary, as just 2.5 kilowatts is enough to achieve the boat’s top speed of 5 knots, or approximately 10 km/h, which is the same speed as a large tug.
This sustainable transport project is first and foremost an initiative of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, which decided to bring Cascades on board due to its recognized sustainability values as well as its advantageous position in relation to the waterway. Cascades therefore sponsored this innovative project, which constitutes another step towards the use of green energy in industrial transportation.
View the Time Warner Cable News report here.
