Tootsie, those who stand to lose money would be the oil companies, the coal companies, the power companies, the road construction companies, and the car companies. Also every congressman who gets contributions from any of those companies.
The problem I have with it is - why drive up the cost with all those additional specifications to make the solar panels functional as roadways? Why not use empty desert land for the solar arrays? Then they could use the cheapest ones available and not have to design them strong enough to have big trucks run over them ten thousand times a day.
It would also be horribly expensive and disruptive to rip out all existing roadways and replace them. The western United States has vast uninhabited desert areas which could be covered with cheaper arrays.
One would need to outlast the environmentalists who would complain about the damage to the habitats of cacti and lizards while ignoring the damage to the habitat of every species on earth by burning fossil fuels.
Very cool...feasible and....
ReplyDeleteWho stands to loose money if the solar highway comes to fruition?
Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteElaine
Tootsie, those who stand to lose money would be the oil companies, the coal companies, the power companies, the road construction companies, and the car companies. Also every congressman who gets contributions from any of those companies.
ReplyDeleteThe problem I have with it is - why drive up the cost with all those additional specifications to make the solar panels functional as roadways? Why not use empty desert land for the solar arrays? Then they could use the cheapest ones available and not have to design them strong enough to have big trucks run over them ten thousand times a day.
It would also be horribly expensive and disruptive to rip out all existing roadways and replace them. The western United States has vast uninhabited desert areas which could be covered with cheaper arrays.
One would need to outlast the environmentalists who would complain about the damage to the habitats of cacti and lizards while ignoring the damage to the habitat of every species on earth by burning fossil fuels.