NEW YORK, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The world's first billboard running solely on wind and solar power is ready to make its debut in the capital of all billboards -- New York's Times Square.
Wind whistling between the neighbourhood's skyscrapers should keep the giant billboard lit constantly, said the manufacturer, Japanese copy and photo giant Ricoh Company Ltd.
The “Eco-Board” weighs 35,000 pounds (15,800 kg) and will be powered by 16 vertical wind turbines and 64 solar panels.“We wanted to make a statement that we can put up an advertisement and not impact the environment, so that began the journey to Times Square,” Ricoh spokesman Ron Potesky said.
A highly congested part of midtown Manhattan, Times Square is home to hundreds of huge, brightly lit billboards and video screens.
Potesky said the power generated from the custom-built wind turbines will account for 95 percent of the energy needed to run the sign, which is 47 feet (14 metres) high by 126 feet (38 metres) long, and carries the company's name in huge red letters.
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