Lollapalooza's eagerly anticipated New York City shows - August 16th and 17th at Randalls Island - will be a major event in the history of alternative energy development.

No petroleum products will be used to power the show - all of the power will be generated through a combination of solar, biodiesel and hydrogen fuel cells. Additionally, Voice of the Land (VOL), the new renewable energy non-profit organization founded by Perry Farrell, will power the famed Lollapalooza Second Stage entirely off of hydrogen fuel cells, which will be the largest use to date of fuel cells in the entertainment industry.

"After I read a book about hydrogen being used as an energy source, I became excited and anxious in anticipation of the new hydrogen economy," says Farrell. "I also felt a little angry that we had the technology to move to a clean, renewable fuel, yet continued to tap a dirty diminishing one instead. I felt like I needed to be involved to help get the message out and turn our country and the world toward clean energy. I know I can convince them, because hydrogen is sexy as a rocket ship, and sweet as the sun."

"Fuel cells promise to be the ideal solution for virtually all of our power needs in the near future," notes Dr. Michael Binder, U.S. Army ERDC-CERL. "They are quiet, have virtually no air emissions, are highly efficient, meaning more power for the same amount of fuel, and they produce hot water which can be used for heating and cooling purposes. The entertainment industry, particularly rock and roll concerts such as Lollapalooza, reaches literally thousands upon thousands of young people each year. What better place to introduce this new technology to the engineers, technicians, and consumers of tomorrow?"

Since nothing like this has ever been attempted, VOL will bring a team comprised of volunteers from the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Fuel Cell Test & Evaluation Center to Lollapalooza's kick-off date in Seattle, where they will take readings and test load capacities. The team will then spend the next month designing the exact specs required to power the stage.

To power a show this size, special equipment has to be gathered and convened in New York from all over North America. The power needs will be so great, a fuel cell-powered bus and aircraft tow vehicle will be brought to New York to provide extra juice. The equipment - all of which will be on loan to Lollapalooza from various renewable energy agencies - is valued at over a million dollars. The event will be supported by the New York City Department of Transportation.

In addition to such performers as the Fire Theft, the Coup, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Elbow, and Wheat, the Second Stage will see a live set from Protium, the world's first fuel cell-powered rock band. The band - created by Glocester, Rhode Island high school teacher Ross McCurdy - will perform using equipment powered by two 1 kW fuel cells, an Avista/Relion Independence 1000 and an Airgen, along with a Millennium Cell Hydrogen on Demand system.

"With zero pollution and the ability to use sustainably produced hydrogen, fuel cells are the cornerstone of the energy revolution that is now beginning," says McCurdy. "The combination of fuel cell power with the raw power of rock and roll, perhaps the most powerful force in the universe, sends a clear message to all: fuel cell power is here, now, and it works. If fuel cells can power a massive Lollapalooza soundstage, they can power the rest of the world."

In order to inform and educate attendees on the benefits and uses of alternative energy sources, Voice of the Land will maintain an on-site tent at every day of Lollapalooza 2004.

A number of activities are planned, including VOL's partnership with the Awake Community to allow fans to play musical instruments powered by H2 fuel cells (donated by Ballard Power and Proton Energy Systems). Engineers from the Schatz Energy Research Center will be on site to explain exactly how these cells work.

VOL will also team with NativeEnergy and the Energy Independence Day Campaign (EIDC) to ask Lolla attendees to donate $1 or more to support new wind farms that could offset as much as 40 million miles of average car driving. VOL will also work with the US Public Interest Research Group to disseminate information on local alternative energy resources, highlighting government incentives for renewable energy.