Solar-powered picnic tables provide outdoor connections at Mt. Hood Community College

Students at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore., can tap away on their laptops while enjoying the outdoor elements. The Portland Oregonian say the college's Associated Student Government has paid about $33,000 for three solar-powered picnic tables. Each table serves as a charging station with four standard electrical outlets and two USB ports to plug in devices such as computers, cellular phones and other portable electronics. Each table is equipped with a rigid umbrella sporting enough solar panels to charge devices even on cloudy winter days. The tables themselves are constructed from 1,200 recycled milk cartons.