Other people's money: $750,000 in public funds given to guy who wants to pave US roadways with solar panels

Sandpoint engineer gets research funds to test panels in parking lot

July 21--Paving U.S. roadways with solar panels could wean the nation off of coal-fired power plants and provide other benefits, too, says a North Idaho electrical engineer.

Scott Brusaw has spent 5 1/2 years working on the concept of "intelligent pavement" that generates electricity, acts like a power grid and even melts snow and ice.

This week, his company, Solar Roadways Inc., received a $750,000 research contract from the Federal Highway Administration for a smaller-scale project that could serve as a first step: a solar parking lot.