Solar Powered Snake Oil

In the “Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy followed the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and discovered the Wizard wasn’t all he claimed to be. No yellow brick road here, but Solar Roadways, claims it can repave America’s roads with solar tiles. Solar Roadway’s short Internet infomercial, which helped raise $1 million for the company, went viral in the past week.

I watched it and even shared it on Facebook. If you’ve been online, you’ve probably seen it. Solar Roadways is a legitimate company and the panels aren’t a scam, but claiming these panels will replace all paved roads is like claiming the ruby slippers can replace trains, planes, and automobiles.

My name is E. Curtis Johnson. I have solar panels on the roof of my house and I like solar, even though my panels don’t produce like I was promised. Parking lots paved with solar tiles sound plausible. Solar tiles replacing all of Americans roadways: when monkeys fly! Even the Scarecrow, who didn’t have a brain, wouldn’t fall for that.