SUBJECT: REGARDING SOLAR-POWERED COMMUTER TRAINS
Carl,
There are some tech problems with the idea but the concept is good, especially with the new continuous film photovotaics being produced by Applied Materials. The California High Speed Rail Authority Board has already adopted a policy to create renewable energy along the line to power the system...wind and solar being most likely. Thank for sharing the good thoughts.
Rod
Rod Diridon, Sr., Executive Director
Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)
210 N. Fourth St., 4th Floor
San Jose, CA 95112
From: Carl Maletic [mailto:carlmaleticarchitect@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 9:36 AM
To: diridon, rod
Subject: Paying for high-speed rail
14 August 2008
Mr. Rod Diridon, Executive Director
The Mineta Transportation Institute
San Jose State University
San Jose, California
Re: High-speed Rail
Dear Rod:
I hope all is well with you and the Institute.
Newsweek???s Fareed Zakaria has an interview in their August 18th edition with noted architect William McDonough, discussing saving energy by making our architecture more efficient. In the article McDonough states:
???We can solar-power the railroads. Amtrak can basically let out its airspace for solar collectors. It???s already got infrastructure, it???s already got power, (and) it???s already got distribution. It???s an opportunity waiting to happen.???
What a brilliant stroke, however it will mean nothing if not implemented. This is when I thought of you and the high-speed rail Line to Los Angeles . Has anyone pursued this idea? Think about 800 miles of solar collectors and the more exciting it becomes.
Monies received by the sale of electrical energy could go to offset the phenomenal cost of operating the line. Do you think private sector money would be interested in such a venture? As you know, the 1950's rail lines were where microwave communication got its start. Let me know your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Carl Maletic, Architect
Sacramento, California
© 2008
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