Taking to the Road? More Power to You

"Last year Oregon launched a “solar highway” demonstration project with a 104 kilowatt ground-mounted solar array situated at the interchange of Interstates 5 and 205. The array powers about a third of the lights on the interchange. Massachusetts recently announced a plan to install a utility-scale wind turbine – big enough to power 400 households – on land adjacent to the Massachusetts Turnpike’s Blandford Rest Area."

"[The inventors] say the solar and wind power generated, given the available incentives, would be cost-competitive with natural gas-fueled power generation.

Whether or not that’s overstated remains to be seen, but the Federal Highway Administration does see promise — in general terms — in roadside renewable energy innovations, and it plans to provide funding for various projects."