[wordup] Highways generate energy?

[Adam Shand]

Now we're talking!! :-)

Via: "Amy Shand" <amy at shand...>
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/30/proposals-would-turn- 
highways-into-wind-farms/
Proposals would turn highways into wind farms
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Clogged highways and frustratingly waiting while your gas needle  
plummets to empty usually doesn't conjure up thoughts of green, but  
it seems like these very roads could become the source of a lot more  
energy. Several recent student designs have proposed that major  
roadways be retrofitted with various forms of wind energy collection  
devices, ranging from overhead turbines that collect energy from  
quickly-moving cars below to barrier panels (pictured after the jump)  
that harness the wind from closely passing vehicles moving in  
opposite directions. Ideally, the wind energy could then be sent back  
out to the grid to power nearby communities, light-rail  
transportation systems, or even intelligent billboards. Of course,  
most of these ideas are still in the research phase, and even if  
proven feasible, we can't imagine the up-front costs (or  
inconveniences of installing these things) to be minor, but we're  
sure that government subsidies should be able to to lend a helping hand.

Read - Barrier panel prototype, via Inhabitat
Read - Overhead turbine design, via Inhabitat


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Posted Apr 30th 2007 10:04AM by Darren Murph