Quote:
Originally Posted by Rochard
You aren't doing the math here.
No matter what, we are going to spend $3 trillion on roads and infrastructure in the near future. If we continue on the current course we'll spend $3 trillion and in return we'll get our freeways maintained and repaved and what not. Or... We can put up solar freeways - not only would it cut down on costs for the federal government by powering all the lights on the freeways, it would also provide income to the federal government in the form of power sold.
Thus.... We can spent $3 trillion and get some roads. Or, we can spent $3 trillion, get the same roads, completely eliminate the money spent on powering all the lights and street signs on the freeway, AND generate income for the government.
Instead of spending money on roads, the roads would be paid for with no money out of pocket, and our government would have extra income. Win win win.
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What an odd way of thinking.
Even more odd to suggest someone else isn't "doing the math"
1) The Federal Government can't be in private business... so no, it can't make money by selling electricity to the public.
2) Spending 3 trillion on roads means rebuilding, resurfacing etc. Not to mention dealing with well over 60,000 bridges that desperately need repair. You've somehow believed that using a new experimental surface, which presumably will lay down on top of the 3 trillion dollars in rebuilt roads will be free, not an additional 3 trillion dollars.
3) What are the costs of maintenance for experimental solar panels as a road surface? Didn't think about that? Shocker.
4) "Government" doesn't take into account the difference between private, city, state, county and federal roads and the obvious issue of getting anyone to agree on anything or to bear the cost of maintenance.
5) Solar panels aren't even efficient enough yet to power your own house in a cost effective manner... but covering the planet with an experimental road surface seems to make obvious financial sense to you?
6) You've somehow assumed how much power they can generate to "power" road lights and other utilities and are obviously oblivious to the fact that it depends entirely on the climate of the region and in a best case scenario, still won't generate much power when averaged across large geographic regions of varying climates
7) Ever hear of winter and roads covered with snow and ice?
Good stuff..
