First U.S. Solar Sidewalks Installed

Walking on sunshine: Could the future of energy be in solar sidewalks?

October 16, 2016 (Associated Press via CBS News)

“…[Solar Roadways recently unveiled its first public solar-powered glass pavers installation in a] northern Idaho resort town. It’s 150 square feet of hexagon-shaped solar panels that people can walk and bicycle on…[to prove the panels] are strong enough and have enough traction to handle motor vehicles, including semitrailers…Solar Roadways is among a growing number of companies embracing renewable energy as the U.S. aims to reduce carbon emissions by one-third from 2005 levels by 2030…[I]t is the only business receiving federal highway research money in pursuit of solar road panels, part of the Federal Highway Administration’s efforts to fight climate change…A solar bike path was built in the Netherlands in 2014, and Germany and France have announced plans to build solar roads in the future…The glass has a traction surface that is equivalent to asphalt. In tests, vehicles are able to stop in the required distance…[and] the panels can hold 250,000 pounds, three times the legal limit for a semitrailer…” click here for more

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