Oregon Solar Highway Project a Go

Those progressive folks in Oregon have announced a $1.3 million project that will add 8,000 square feet of solar panels to a major highway — the I-5 and I-205 interchange, for locals — that will generate 112,000 kilowatt hours of energy a year.

The output isn’t as massive as some solar farms planned in California, but because it utilizes land that is already “wasted” space, it shows that you don’t need a massive desert to set up solar shop. 

Of course, 112,000 kilowatt hours isn’t much compared to the 45 million that Oregon uses on its transportation system alone every year — traffic signals, buildings, ramp-metering, etc. — but it’s a start.

Oregon begins building first "solar highway" project (Engadget)

Comments

It will generate enough electricity to power the lights at that intersection for 1/3 of the year. Makes you wonder what could happen if the oil companies could invest their billions to projects like this.

Conceptually, this is an excellent example of sustainable design. However, economically, this is an excellent example of state spending gone awry. It will take over a century for them to make back their initial 1.3 million investment!

They're entire transportation system could be solar powered with about 1/2 billion dollars. Just think what could have done with the billions wasted on the war.

Let's see what happens when some drunk runs off the road and takes out the panels.

This is pretty much how things are done in Oregon. Price be damned, it's green so it must be good.

Only a pessimist would think like that. I'm sure they'll have some type of barrier around it, duh.

At least the planners are proving that innovation is still alive and well in Oregon!