The U.S. Solar Highways System - Part of Our Clean Energy Future?

Ever hear of the U.S. Interstate Solar Highway System? You might, sometime in the future: Solar Roadways has received a grant from the Department of Energy to develop 12-by-12-foot solar panels, dubbed "Solar Roads," that can be embedded into roads, pumping power into the grid. The panels may also feature LED road warnings and built-in heating elements that could prevent roads from freezing.

Each Solar Road panel can develop around 7.6 kwh of power each day at a cost of about $7,000 each. If widely adopted, they could realistically wean the US off fossil fuels: a mile-long stretch of four-lane highway could take 500 homes off the grid. If the entire US Interstate system made use of the panels, energy would no longer be a concern for the country.

Each Solar Road panel has its own microprocessor and energy management system, with a top translucent and high-strength top layer made of glass. The base layer under the solar panel routes the power, as well as data utilities (TV, phone, Internet) to homes and power companies.

Sounds almost too good to be true... via