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Aug 29, 2008 4:45 pm US/Eastern
Green Scene: Earth-Friendlier Fair
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (CBS 3) ―
A familiar
summer fair has gotten a green makeover in Allentown. CBS 3's Liz Keptner shows you what
you'll see (and smell!) that's different.
It's hard to
pick one thing you like best about the Great Allentown Fair, whether it's the
roar of the crowds or the thrill of the rides. Maybe it's just that familiar
smell in the air. Wait, what is that smell?
"It smells
great. Kinda smells like popcorn. You don't have the black smoke coming out of
the generators, and it's better for the environment," said Charlie Belknap
of Powers Great American Midways.
When his
company took over operations of the fair, they brought an
environmentally-friendly philosophy. For the first time in the fair's 156-year
history, everything on the midway -- the rides, the food stands, the
electricity -- is run by soy-based bio-produced diesel fuel from Pennsylvania soybean
farmers and the Pennsylvania Soybean Association.
"The first
time we used it was at North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh, North Carolina,
two years ago," said Belknap. "Since then we've been using it at all
the fairs where biodiesel is available."
Belknap says
the soybean-based blend is cleaner and safer for the environment. It saves
money and conserves energy.
And this year
the fair is also using LED lighting throughout the fairgrounds and on rides
like The Vortex.
"This
system uses only seven amps of electricity, whereas the regular lighting on
that ride would use 80 amps of electricity," said Belknap.
"I love
the rides!" said one girl. Going green never felt so good.
The Great
Allentown Fair runs until Monday, September 1, starting at noon. Admission is
$6 for people age 12 and over, $4 for people 65 and over (after 2 p.m. only),
and free for children under 12.
RELATED LINKS
The Great Allentown Fair
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