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"Solar Sunflower" Collectors Lend Credibility to "Solar Farm" [Green Art]

In the spot where the old Robert Mueller airport used to be, the city of Austin is building, among other things, a solar farm made of these contest-winning, 16-foot-high “sunflower” style solar collectors.

The collectors aren’t active yet, but when they’re switched on they’ll be used to power lights for a nearby hiking and biking trail. They’re 16 feet high and 14 feet across (at the “flower,” presumably) and are being viewed as both an art installation and a greening initiative. As Austin Council Member Lee Leffingwell shamelessly brags, “Our city has a great understanding of how art can transform public spaces.” Yeah? Well, our site has a great understanding of sweet giant metal flowers, too. [MAKE]