Jerry LaBella (Admin)
04-21-2006, 02:46 PM
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Contact: Rob Hallwachs, (213) 217-6450; press packets available April 21, 2006 G’DAY, MATE: METROPOLITAN’S SOLAR BOAT REGATTA SPURS SIMILAR EFFORT IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA The success of Solar Cup™
is spreading “down under.” Metropolitan Water District’s Solar Cup program—now the largest solar boat competition in the nation—has been noticed halfway around the globe. The Australian subsidiary of electronics firm Roland DG Corp. announced today they are launching a similar program and are inviting Metropolitan’s Solar Cup manager to Sydney for expertise. Solar Cup is a six-month program for hundreds of Southern California high school students in which they build, equip and race solar-powered boats and learn more about mathematics, physics, engineering, teamwork, alternative energy sources and resource management. “They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, so this is high praise,” said Metropolitan General Manager Jeff Kightlinger. “We’re pleased to share our experience.” In its fourth year, Solar Cup has a record 37 teams preparing their boats for the May 19-21 competition at Metropolitan’s Lake Skinner near Temecula. The teams are sponsored and financed by local water agencies and other non-profit organizations. Julie Miller, a credentialed California teacher who works in Metropolitan’s Education Programs unit, is being flown out this month by Roland DG to help organize the November 2006 Australian International Solar Boat Challenge event at the Sydney Olympic Regatta Centre in Penrith. Tim Levy, the Australian program director, said he discovered Metropolitan’s Solar Cup program on the Internet, where he viewed video, photos, rules and other materials at Metropolitan’s Web site, www.mwdh2o.com (http://www.mwdh2o.com). more . . . . .
-2- “We certainly share a passion for children, for education, and for an alternative energy agenda,” Levy said. “I was sold!” MWD’s Miller said, “The real thrill is that this recognizes all of the effort that Metropolitan, the sponsoring water agencies, the teachers and students have put into Solar Cup over the past four years. And it’s great to see that our commitment to educating young people to environmental issues is shared on the other side of the globe.” There will be slight differences between Metropolitan’s and Australia’s programs. Metropolitan’s competition is open only to Southern California high school teams racing identical 16-foot-long hulls individually equipped with steering and solar collection and storage systems. The Australian event proposes a radio-controlled model boat category for primary school students, and full-sized, piloted craft categories for secondary students and others. The Australian event (www.solarchallenge.co.au (http://www.solarchallenge.co.au)) will be held in conjunction with a Penrith festival that attracts 10,000 people, and will present several thousand dollars worth of prizes to the winners. Metropolitan’s event will be held over three days and open to the public free of charge. Friday, May 19 will be qualifying events. Saturday, May 20 will be sprint races using solar power stored in batteries. Sunday, May 21, will feature endurance races using solar-collection panels, and will conclude with an awards ceremony. ### The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.
Contact: Rob Hallwachs, (213) 217-6450; press packets available April 21, 2006 G’DAY, MATE: METROPOLITAN’S SOLAR BOAT REGATTA SPURS SIMILAR EFFORT IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA The success of Solar Cup™
is spreading “down under.” Metropolitan Water District’s Solar Cup program—now the largest solar boat competition in the nation—has been noticed halfway around the globe. The Australian subsidiary of electronics firm Roland DG Corp. announced today they are launching a similar program and are inviting Metropolitan’s Solar Cup manager to Sydney for expertise. Solar Cup is a six-month program for hundreds of Southern California high school students in which they build, equip and race solar-powered boats and learn more about mathematics, physics, engineering, teamwork, alternative energy sources and resource management. “They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, so this is high praise,” said Metropolitan General Manager Jeff Kightlinger. “We’re pleased to share our experience.” In its fourth year, Solar Cup has a record 37 teams preparing their boats for the May 19-21 competition at Metropolitan’s Lake Skinner near Temecula. The teams are sponsored and financed by local water agencies and other non-profit organizations. Julie Miller, a credentialed California teacher who works in Metropolitan’s Education Programs unit, is being flown out this month by Roland DG to help organize the November 2006 Australian International Solar Boat Challenge event at the Sydney Olympic Regatta Centre in Penrith. Tim Levy, the Australian program director, said he discovered Metropolitan’s Solar Cup program on the Internet, where he viewed video, photos, rules and other materials at Metropolitan’s Web site, www.mwdh2o.com (http://www.mwdh2o.com). more . . . . .
-2- “We certainly share a passion for children, for education, and for an alternative energy agenda,” Levy said. “I was sold!” MWD’s Miller said, “The real thrill is that this recognizes all of the effort that Metropolitan, the sponsoring water agencies, the teachers and students have put into Solar Cup over the past four years. And it’s great to see that our commitment to educating young people to environmental issues is shared on the other side of the globe.” There will be slight differences between Metropolitan’s and Australia’s programs. Metropolitan’s competition is open only to Southern California high school teams racing identical 16-foot-long hulls individually equipped with steering and solar collection and storage systems. The Australian event proposes a radio-controlled model boat category for primary school students, and full-sized, piloted craft categories for secondary students and others. The Australian event (www.solarchallenge.co.au (http://www.solarchallenge.co.au)) will be held in conjunction with a Penrith festival that attracts 10,000 people, and will present several thousand dollars worth of prizes to the winners. Metropolitan’s event will be held over three days and open to the public free of charge. Friday, May 19 will be qualifying events. Saturday, May 20 will be sprint races using solar power stored in batteries. Sunday, May 21, will feature endurance races using solar-collection panels, and will conclude with an awards ceremony. ### The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.