Exercise generates electricity and idea

It's voting time again and you know what the old time politicians will tell you. "Vote early -- and vote often!"

Of course, in a real election that's not exactly legal, but when it comes to the Pepsi "Refresh" contest, people are allowed --and encouraged -- to vote early and vote often. Recently, Calvin Cannon of Shelbyville won a $5,000 grant through the Pepsi promotion with his idea, "Clothe the N.A.K.E.D. Prom Date," a scholarship providing tuxedos for young men in local high schools.

Now there's another Bedford County connection on the ballot.

"I have submitted a Bright Green Idea to the Pepsi Refresh Project in hopes of receiving a $5,000 grant and it is now ready for viewing and voting," said Jack Vincent.

His parents, Jacky and Linda Vincent, live in Unionville. Jack was raised there, graduating from Community High School and then going into the Navy, during which time he served in the Iraqi War. He lives in Ft. Collins, Colo., where he now attends Colorado State College and is an employee of Woodward Governor.

The Pepsi Refresh challenge is divided into categories, such as Education, Health, or The Planet. In a way, Jack's idea combines two of those.

"The idea consists of mounting inverters (mini-generators) onto 40 exercise bikes at a local gym here in Fort Collins, Colorado, and soon expanding nationwide," he wrote on his proposal page. "The mini-generators are powered by the gym members who ride and pedal the power that is transformed by the inverter into electricity that can be used -- instead of purchasing the electricity from the power authority.

"Once the electricity is harnessed and synchronized to the local power grid, it can provide power for the gym and even a small neighborhood!"

Details -- and the place to vote -- can be found at www.refresheverything.com/abrightgreenid....

"This makes the human body a power generator to better the earth," wrote Jack. "Why not use an army of bikes to 'pedal' our energy bills down? The grass is greener on the other side, if you pedal your way there!"

The grant money, he said, would be used to buy "the most efficient electric bicycle generators."

As of Wednesday afternoon, Jack's idea was 5th -- and the top 10 in each category can receive funding. The voting for this month's awards ends Friday, but often, if the idea has risen sharply in popularity, it is automatically re-submitted for the next month, as was Cannon's tuxedo scholarship idea.