Pedal power helps fuel New Year's Eve ball lights

NEW YORK — The 30,000 LED lights on the New Year's Eve ball at Times Square are being fueled in part by pedal power, CBS New York reported Saturday.

As WCBS 880’s Jim Smith reported, six stationary Citi Bikes were have been set up to supply the electricity for the lights. April Campo of Maryland was spinning away on one of them.

"I'm loving this," Campo said. "Isn’t this a great idea? This is so fun."

The bikes pump out about 75 watts per hour, according to Citi spokesman Ed Skyler.

"If everybody does their job, that ball is going to light up, and it’s going to be something we’ll all remember," Skyler said.

The energy generated from the bikes through Monday was being stored in large batteries, and then transferred to the grid to offset the power demands of the ball.

Campo said it was a great way to be green and do one's part for the massive celebration.

"I'm going to say, 'Look there. Look at what I did,'" she said. "I’ll be telling all my friends about it."