Legend has it that, in ancient Rome, the streets were paved in gold. True or not, chances are the streets of Sagle, Idaho, will be paved in silver soon. And even though Sagle, Idaho, probably has fewer streets than ancient Rome, this would be a major accomplishment for Scott and Julie Brusaw, the owners of Solar Roadways LLC that has made it its mission to cover U.S. roadways entirely in solar panels.
They came up with a design for highly resistant hexagonal solar panels that will pay for themselves, and more, by generating electricity all day. What is more, the panels are capable of illuminating roads at night, and of defrosting them in winter, solving multiple problems all at the same time.
Buoyed by much media attention from the start, the company just turned to crowd funding for its first major phase of expansion from proof of concept to pilot production. A week prior to the deadline, the company is already overfunded by nearly 50% above its $ 1 million goal, all in exchange for t-shirts and coffee mugs in further proof that great ideas do not require “angel investors” anymore.
The panels will be made in the USA, and several official bodies have expressed their interest, and offered their support. And since solar panels, of course, consume silver and various other technology metals in their photovoltaic layer, electronics etc., this project could turn out to also pave the way for silver’s future.
Pictures: Solar Roadways LLC
By Bodo Albrecht
tminsider@eniqma.com
Discuss on Kitco Forums
