More Solar Roadways in Oregon?
On the heels of its successful solar highway project, the state of Oregon is said to be considering more solar roadways. At the interchange between I-5 and I-205 near Portland, Oregon, a 104-kilowatt solar array provides a quarter to one third of the energy needed to light area with clean solar energy. Earlier this month, the Oregon Solar Highway Project reached a record milestone, producing 85 kilowatts of energy by mid-day (on average, the 8,000 square foot array creates 58 kilowatts daily). Power generated by the solar panels feeds into a grid owned by Portland General Electric.
While Oregon’s solar highway is the first of its kind in the nation, it certainly will not be the last. Other areas in the state could certainly be improved with similar projects to generate electricity for roadway lighting, or even additional power demands. Other states, as well, are hoping that their thoroughfares are transformed into solar roadways.
For example, In Idaho, a different type of solar roadway is being tested. Instead of a solar array installed in an adjacent right-of-way, durable solar panels could be installed directly onto the road’s surface. And, the Green Roadway project is another effort conceived by a pair of inventors who believe they can develop an “alternative energy roadway system” along highways across the nation.
As reported in the Deseret News last week:
“In Utah, all you need is $1 million to bid on the Green Roadway Project’s licensing agreement to tap into the technology for possible use on up to 67,300 miles of roadways that traverse the Beehive State. Licensing agreements are up for grabs in all states via a sealed bid auction to be held Thursday. The minimum reserve starts out as low as $125,000 for some states and goes up to $1.5 million for exclusive rights to California roadways.”
The future of such a solar roadway project would not only include power for the highway system itself, but also nearby cities and towns. Even plug-in electric car recharging stations would be powered by solar energy from the highways.
View of Mt. Jefferson from a sunny Oregon roadway
Many people are watching the prospect of more solar roadways, in Oregon, and across the nation, with great interest. Private capital venture capitalists, governments and renewable energy companies may choose to invest, given stimulus funds and other incentives (tax credits and rebates) that are offered for solar energy.
Considering the photos above – taken by me in sunny Central Oregon – leaves me wondering just how long it will be before we’re all driving on solar roadways?
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