Columbia is offering the public an unusual way to charge their electronic devices.
A wood and metal bench in front of City Hall, called a Soofa, has an attachment that will charge electronic devices.
Public Works Director John Glasscock said the bench cost $4,100. He said the city is experimenting to see if the public would use the Soofa, which uses a solar panel and batteries to supply power through two USB ports.
Glasscock said people sometimes get desperate if their phones or tablets are losing power when no power source is nearby.
The Columbia Daily Tribune reports the bench's 30-watt solar panel can keep the battery charged even with limited sunshine. People have to have their own cords to attach to the USB.