We’ve all seen solar panels, and know what they are. Daily, many of these produce energy all around the world, and even our school uses them to generate energy. Recently, a couple from Idaho had thought of a new idea - What if we made our roadways solar panels?
Now, this concept is being debated by people all over the country. One side of the discussion claims that this idea of solar roadways is definitely possible, and that the roads of the United States can be turned into solar roadways. On the other hand, many people believe that having solar roadways is not possible and that there are reasons that limit these solar-panel roads.
Six years ago, the Brusaws, who started the company “Solar Roadways,” got $100,000 dollars from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help them experiment with their radical idea. This was their first big breakthrough in starting to get more knowledge about producing solar roadways. The next year, in 2010, they began to build their first road panels. After winning and getting $800,000 more from various sources, they were finally able to construct a larger area of panels that they could use to test the safety and efficiency of having solar roadways. In recent times, the Brusaw couple started fundraising for their cause. In order to do so, they started an Indiegogo campaign, and since then, they have raised over two million dollars. With this money from fundraising, they will be able to learn more about the possibilities of solar roadways.
Throughout the country, there are people who support and also criticize the likelihood of having successful solar roadways. People who support this new idea of the Brusaws say that there is a chance that the solar roadways can make their way into our daily life. Some people who are somewhat supportive think that maybe we should make the sidewalks “solar” instead. However, this movement has also received lots of skepticism. Many people claim that the solar roadways could be unsafe in certain weather conditions, and that it would take too long and be too difficult to install these for all roads in this gigantic country. In the end, while this innovative idea indeed has potential, there are certainly roadblocks to this colossal undertaking. What do you think?
By: Andy B.
Now, this concept is being debated by people all over the country. One side of the discussion claims that this idea of solar roadways is definitely possible, and that the roads of the United States can be turned into solar roadways. On the other hand, many people believe that having solar roadways is not possible and that there are reasons that limit these solar-panel roads.
Six years ago, the Brusaws, who started the company “Solar Roadways,” got $100,000 dollars from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help them experiment with their radical idea. This was their first big breakthrough in starting to get more knowledge about producing solar roadways. The next year, in 2010, they began to build their first road panels. After winning and getting $800,000 more from various sources, they were finally able to construct a larger area of panels that they could use to test the safety and efficiency of having solar roadways. In recent times, the Brusaw couple started fundraising for their cause. In order to do so, they started an Indiegogo campaign, and since then, they have raised over two million dollars. With this money from fundraising, they will be able to learn more about the possibilities of solar roadways.
Throughout the country, there are people who support and also criticize the likelihood of having successful solar roadways. People who support this new idea of the Brusaws say that there is a chance that the solar roadways can make their way into our daily life. Some people who are somewhat supportive think that maybe we should make the sidewalks “solar” instead. However, this movement has also received lots of skepticism. Many people claim that the solar roadways could be unsafe in certain weather conditions, and that it would take too long and be too difficult to install these for all roads in this gigantic country. In the end, while this innovative idea indeed has potential, there are certainly roadblocks to this colossal undertaking. What do you think?
By: Andy B.