Any geoengineering solution that doesn't actually remove CO2 from the atmosphere is a waste of money because it fails to confront the totality of the problem. Though it garners the majority of the media attention, the biggest problem with increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere is not climate change, rather that it leads directly to an increase in the acidity of the worlds oceans.

Reading through many of the comments on this site, it has become apparent that many of you are dead-set opposed to this idea. I find that a little bit surprising with all that this idea has going for it. I must confess that my first reaction was: this is a brilliant idea! Are there potential issues here? Of course, but it has so much going for it that it would be foolish to ignore it.

Lets look at some of the problems:

Durability
Can glass stand up to punishment? We're not talking about house glass here. Anyone who has been to a hockey game knows how much abuse glass can withstand. Truth be told asphalt requires a ton of maintenance or it quickly deteriorates. Snowplows? Of course they will do some damage, but the question is: how much? They're already very hard on asphalt roads. Dirty? Well, we may find that street sweeper technology is effective. Having said that, if we do decide to implement this idea, I suspect that we would end up with a hybrid system. It would be foolhardy to suggest that one solution should fit all. I suspect that concrete or something will take the majority of the punishing loads with these panels along the shoulders or in parking lots or sidewalks. This idea may be more suited in certain climates and not others. At least to start.

Cost
Yes, this is more expensive than asphalt. But what are you getting for your money? If the inventor is to be believed, this surface would last 3X as long and would also incorporate the energy infrastructure of the nation. When people throw out trillion dollar numbers in regards to redoing the entire country, that's a bit of a scare tactic. Much of that money will have to be spent anyway repairing what we already have. If you eliminate some of the ideas such as the ultracapacitors and LED lighting, the costs could be brought down further.

Future Possibilities To me, the most exciting aspect of the solar road is what sort of possibilities it opens up.
1. The electric car is coming. Imagine cars that charge while they drive, or at least when you park at a mall!
2. By incorporating the energy infrastructure into the roads, you eliminate the need for overhead power lines and the associated battles that accompany the building of new lines. Power lines are crucial for other renewables such as wind.
3. If done right, you start to build the mythical 'smart grid' Certainly there are an abundance of problems that may occur, but, I haven't read anything on this site that is not solvable. Everything required to make this project work is already a proven technology. The only question-mark is if they can be combined and if governments and business will embrace this idea.

Perhaps, but according to the article, the panels will heat themselves thereby eliminating the need for snowplows.

Well, you might bring the planet to its knees, but who would know it?

The Girlfriend doesn't compete WITH the MMO, the Girlfriend joins and tags along IN the MMO. Once inside the game, she will alienate him from his merry band of adventurers by complaining that he doesn't spend enough alone time with her in the game. Eventually he will throw himself into his schoolwork just to get away from her for a few hours.

... and what do they do with the nuclear plants themselves when they reach the end of their lifespans?

You make some good points! Here's another take: What the proponents of engineering our way out of this mess fail to realize is that the changing climate is not the only problem caused by the increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. The real elephant in the room is what all that CO2 is doing to the oceans... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_acidification The really crazy part is that in North America this aspect is hardly even mentioned!

Any solution that does not involve controlling carbon must take our oceans into account, at least if we like to breath O2.

Duh, that's why they need to start the sequel right away. They need to get this forthcoming abomination out of the way so that they can cash in on the even numbered awesomeness!

Call the city and complain. If they tell you to get lost, get out your stopwatch and gather proof and take it to the media.

Red light cameras only issue you a ticket if you ENTER the intersection when the light is red. They take two pictures. The first showing you about to enter with the light being red and the second shows that you have actually entered the intersection.

Ummmm, if you think you didn't run that red light you can go before a judge and argue that the photo's of you running the red light don't exist. If you wish to face your accuser, that would be the prosecutor. I'm sure that if there is some kind of crazy extenuating circumstance, like you were fleeing from the shotgun toting father who just caught you banging his daughter, the judge and the rest of the courtroom will get a good laugh and they might even give you a reduced fine.

Agreed. Leaving aside the accusations of cheating and underhandedness of the cities, my experience has been that most people who don't like the cameras don't like them because they know that they're the ones who speed or run red lights! They do it because in their minds the rules don't really apply to them. They will seize on any stupid talking point and argue till they're blue in the face because they know that they engage in bad driving behaviour and are now going to be caught.

I'm like you: it's a shame to have to babysit adults.