Pittsburgh has a new glow this holiday season

Iconic bridge shines with environmental lighting installation

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Nov 17, 2016, 11:09 ET

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pittsburgh's forward-thinking commitment to innovation and sustainability will be reflected in a new addition to the city's Comcast Light Up Night^® launch of the holiday season on Friday, Nov. 18. With Downtown, the North Shore and the South Side aglow in lights and festivities drawing an anticipated crowd of 500,000, a new 27,000 multi-colored LED lighting display on the Rachel Carson Bridge (also known as the 9th Street Bridge) will beautify the night-time skyline with the help of environmentally friendly wind power.

A new 27,000 multi-colored LED lighting display on the Rachel Carson Bridge will beautify Pittsburgh's night-time skyline with the help of environmentally friendly wind power. Video credit: Jared Rendon-Trompak

Sustainability and innovation are highlighted in Pittsburgh this holiday season as one of the city's famed bridges is awash in light and colors thanks to the Energy Flow bridge lighting installation, powered in part by wind energy. Photo credit: Roy Engelbrecht

Titled "Energy Flow," the installation was designed by environmental artist Andrea Polli, who envisioned one of Pittsburgh's sister bridges illuminated with wind power. Ron Gdovic, CEO WindStax Wind Power Systems, helped bring Polli's vision to life by developing nanogrids and 16 specially designed wind turbines mounted on steel platforms and secured to the bridge. The wind turbines generate the main source of power for lighting the display.

More than an art display, the Energy Flow installation bridges Pittsburgh's pioneering industrial past with its technology-driven future, making it a perfect endnote to Pittsburgh's bicentennial celebration.

"It is fitting that this sustainable installation is mounted to the Rachel Carson Bridge, named for the noted environmental champion and Pittsburgh-area native," said Mayor William Peduto, City of Pittsburgh.

The Rachel Carson Bridge is one of Pittsburgh's Three Sisters, three prominent and nearly identical self-anchored suspension bridges spanning the Allegheny River and the first of their kind in the United States.

The installation has been more than a year in the making. The project was realized through the efforts of Mayor Peduto, Covestro LLC, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Riverlife, the City of Pittsburgh, Duquesne Light Company and DQE Communications.

The Pittsburgh media and downtown commuters were given a sneak preview of the lighting installation tonight. All regional residents and visitors to the city will be able to enjoy the Energy Flow display throughout the holiday season and on select occasions in early 2017.

About the Pittsburgh Bicentennial
The Pittsburgh Bicentennial is a yearlong celebration of the official 200^th anniversary of the incorporation of Pittsburgh as a city, giving citizens the right to vote and the opportunity for self-governance. Mayor William Peduto formed the Pittsburgh Bicentennial Commission to recognize and celebrate the anniversary with unique and collaborative partnerships. Over 200 organizations, companies, nonprofits and individuals are participating in the yearlong celebration. For more information log onto www.PGH200.com.

About Covestro LLC
Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business with 2015 sales of EUR 12.1 billion. Covestro manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical and sports and leisure industries. The Covestro group has 30 production sites around the globe and employed approximately 15,800 people at the end of 2015.

About Duquesne Light
Duquesne Light Company is committed to more than keeping the lights on; it powers the moments in its customers' lives. As a next generation energy company, Duquesne Light Company's nearly 1,500 employees are dedicated to delivering reliable and safe energy to more than a half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.

About Andrea Polli
Andrea Polli is a writer and environmental artist adept at using the mercurial qualities of air and light to create original artworks. She has exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Artport and the Field Museum of Natural History. Polli holds a Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her doctorate in computing, communications and electronics from the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom.

About WindStax
WindStax^® Wind Power Systems is a full-service wind power company. We design and manufacture our own unique brand of plug-and-play wind power systems for residential and commercial off-grid, microgrid, and supplemental stationary power requirements. WindStax Wind Power Systems incorporates many industry firsts – including high-performance energy management in a self-contained and reliable green energy system that is easy to own and operate.

Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/Energy_Flow__credit_Jared_Rendon-Trompak.mp4

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161117/441031

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161117/440998LOGO

SOURCE Pittsburgh Bicentennial Committee