It is, perhaps, the most famous piece of digital signage in the world. Just the sight of the 25-foot tall billboard built in 1959 brings tears of joy to many.

And now the iconic structure is going green.

The Consumer Electronics Association, owner and producer of International CES, has made two $50,000 donations to local Las Vegas organizations, Green Chips and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), to advance clean energy and sustainable living. Green Chips plans to use its $50,000 donation to support a proposed solar project at the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign on Las Vegas Boulevard.

“We’re proud to partner with the consumer electronics industry and CEA in helping to power Las Vegas via solar panels,” says Cindy Ortega, vice president, MGM Resorts International and chairperson for the Green Chips board of trustees. “In a city that gets 300 days a year of sunshine, that is a powerful commitment.”

The LVCVA will use its $50,000 donation from CEA to install several electric vehicle charging stations at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“We have a long-standing relationship with CEA and are delighted to be one of the beneficiaries of their ‘green’ program,” says Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO, LVCVA. “The donation will help fund new vehicle charging stations at the Las Vegas Convention Center – site of International CES – and will represent the innovation and ingenuity in the consumer electronics industry while further advancing our sustainability efforts.”

“The International CES is proud and grateful to call Las Vegas home, and we at CEA are committed to giving back each year to invest in the sustainability of this great city,” says Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “Solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations are great investments for our organization to make that will benefit Las Vegas residents and visitors alike.”

CEA has an overall goal in conjunction with the CES to increase the reuse and recycle rate for solid waste generated at the show beyond last year’s high of 75 percent. For the second year, more than 190,000 badge holders were made from vinyl banners from the previous year’s CES, and more than 80,000 square feet of magnetic and vinyl show banners will be collected in cooperation with key exhibitors to repurpose. CEA will also collect discarded publications and show collateral, setting out to surpass last year’s collection of 50,000 pounds of materials.

Gary Shapiro (center), president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, presents a $50,000 donation to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority that will be used to install several electric vehicle charging stations at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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Steve Crowe - Web Editor,

Steve is an editor for commercialintegrator.com. He graduated from Emerson College with a B.A. in Journalism. He joined EH Publishing in 2008. Steve is also a freelance sports writer for The Boston Globe and other various publications.

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