If Money Talks… ‘Solar Roadways’ Raises $1.5 Million

Created by Solar Roadways, it outlines a case for solar power-collecting road surfaces designed for everything from parking lots to airports to sidewalks.

While the technology is far from proven, the world is ready to support the idea, which has the potential to produce massive amounts of energy if done on a large scale.

After the video “Solar FREAKIN’ Roadways” went viral this month, the company, started by husband-wife team Scott and Julie Brusaw, raised nearly $1.5 million on an Idiegogo crowd-sourcing campaign. The money, they say, will be used to hire engineers to help implement the concept.

According to the company:

“Solar Roadways is a modular paving system of solar panels that can withstand the heaviest of trucks (250,000 pounds). These Solar Road Panels can be installed on roads, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, bike paths, playgrounds… literally any surface under the sun. They pay for themselves primarily through the generation of electricity, which can power homes and businesses connected via driveways and parking lots. A nationwide system could produce more clean renewable energy than a country uses as a whole.

The concept is appealing. The company claims that the roads could be configured to melt snow, warn of obstacles and have various lighting patterns, among many other cool abilities.

It will be fun to watch as the concept gets off the ground with some test projects and, with a lot of newly infused cash, we might see some up and running soon.