July 24, 2002

Boise State Radio Commended for Wind-Powered Tower

Boise State Radio will be cited before the U.S. Senate this week for “its creative application of wind power technology.” The National Public Radio affiliate recently completed installation of what is believed to be the first public radio transmitter site to rely on the power of wind.

The transmitter, located at 8,600 feet atop Ellen D. Mountain, was built by Boise State Radio’s 24-hour news station KBSX-FM. Three state-of-the-art turbines help provide broadcast service to previously unreachable areas in southern Idaho and northeastern Nevada.

Sen. Mike Crapo will visit the Boise State Radio studio at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 27, to present the station with the Spirit of Idaho award. The event will be aired live on NPR News 91 during the Private Idaho show and replayed at 11 a.m. during Weekend Edition. The studio is located in Room 213 of the Simplot/Micron Instructional Technology Center on the Boise State campus.

Crapo, who has a strong interest in the development of wind power in Idaho, noted Boise State’s leadership role in that field. “Recognizing Idaho’s wind power potential and its benefits to rural economics, Boise State Radio is emerging as a leader in the advancement of environmentally efficient technology,” he said.

The official Senate Record will record the following: “In an age when just 3 percent of electricity in today’s national mix comes from renewable sources, BSU Radio has committed to expanding [its] services while advancing the use of clean, efficient power sources.”

Contact:
Jim Paluzzi
Boise State Radio
(208) 426-3663