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Author Topic: Solared Power Streetlighting  (Read 375 times)

roadman65

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Solared Power Streetlighting
« on: June 22, 2012, 08:07:57 AM »

I was just in New Jersey and noticed that in some communities that there are now solar panels that now produce energy for street lights attached to the utility poles.  I was wondering if that is happening in other areas of the nation? Hey, it sounds like a great idea, even though the panels are ugly.  Less money on electricity and much greener.
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agentsteel53

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Re: Solared Power Streetlighting
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2012, 12:26:25 PM »

I've never noticed it for street lights, but have seen it often for flashing warning signs all over the US. 
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hbelkins

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Re: Solared Power Streetlighting
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2012, 12:52:38 PM »

Also for lighting on overhead signs in some places. I-68 in western Maryland, for example.
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bulldog1979

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Re: Solared Power Streetlighting
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2012, 02:35:44 PM »

MDOT is installing solar panels at the I-96/East Beltline interchange in Grand Rapids. The panels are covering part of the car pool lot adjacent to the interchange and feeding power into the grid to "spin the meter backwards".

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sp_redelectric

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Re: Solared Power Streetlighting
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2012, 02:29:24 AM »

Oregon DOT has several "Solar Highway" projects that are interconnected with freeway lighting:

1.  I-5/I-205 interchange near Tualatin.  A large solar array is installed east of I-5 and in the median between the I-205 transition ramps to either southbound or northbound I-5. (Coordinates:   45°22'11.68"N 122°45'19.70"W)

2.  A second array is planned at the former West Linn Rest Area site on I-205 about six miles east of the first location.  This rest area was closed years ago due to ongoing criminal activity; and frankly it was redundant being in an urbanized area and the Wilsonville Rest Area was about 10 miles away.  There was no northbound rest area, but there was (and still is) a viewpoint for northbound traffic but with no restroom facilities.  Not yet constructed; approximate location  45°21'8.22"N, 122°37'39.96"W

3.  At the Wilsonville Rest Area on I-5 is a new solar array.  Not yet visible in Google Maps/Earth.  (Coordinates:   45°16'11.31"N 122°46'19.46"W)

Post Merge: June 24, 2012, 02:52:31 PM
Also, TriMet (Portland's transit agency) has a large solar array in downtown Portland that generates power for streetlighting (but not power for the light rail trains) on the downtown Transit Mall:

Location:  45°30'29.90"N 122°41'1.38"W

Website:  http://live.deckmonitoring.com/?id=tri_met_south_terminus
« Last Edit: June 24, 2012, 02:52:31 PM by deathtopumpkins »
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