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Make the SR51 Arizona's "Solar Highway"
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Forwarded to PlanPHX Leadership Committee and appropriate city department
Make the SR51 Arizona's "Solar Highway"
my very crude rendering of the 'solar highway'
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Between approximately Highland & Bethany Home Rd the SR51 is sunken down quite a bit, between these staggered sound walls. As I drive it often, I've gotten to thinking about how it would be the perfect place to put a solar canopy over the highway.

Support beams could be built into the side walls, and the concrete divider. Highway lights and signage could be hung from the bottom of the solar panel support system.

This area is a good fit for something like this, because a canopy doesn't block any mountain or business views, because there really aren't any views there.

The solar panels obviously would produce power, but with thousands driving under them each day, they'd work as sort of a passive advertisement to go green/solar. Additionally, less sun hitting the hot black top means fewer cars over heating and a slight reduction in the urban heat island.

7 Comments
  • comment icon

    by Patricia E Pump in some Beethoven music under the canopy and no one will have road rage or need therapy. :)

    Dec 10, 2012 at 9:11 PM  
  • Sean M15

    by Sean M15 Great idea! This seems like it could work is several areas around town.

    Nov 15, 2012 at 2:04 PM  
  • Jim M18

    by Jim M18 Experimenting is a good thing. It could be a demonstration project for any number of up and coming solar companies.

    Aug 30, 2012 at 9:20 PM  
  • Erika K

    by Erika K Wow! Never thought of this or seen it implemented. Interesting.

    Aug 29, 2012 at 9:10 PM  
  • Nicole G1

    by Nicole G1 I've never heard of something like this but I'm all for solar and it seems like a cool idea if it could be implemented cost-effectively.

    Aug 29, 2012 at 5:08 PM  
  • Will Novak

    by Will Novak They have something like this in Oregon:
    http://cms.oregon.gov/odot/hwy/oipp/pages/inn_solarhighway.aspx

    I think Germany might have something similar too...?

    Thats on the side of the highway, but over the top obviously works better on the 51.

    The I-10 between PHX & Tucson should have tons of solar panels along the side, it just makes too much darned sense.

    Aug 29, 2012 at 5:11 PM  
  • A F

    by A F All solar everything. Let's put solar over every highway and power this city with clean energy!

    Aug 29, 2012 at 5:06 PM  

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