I hope that the last 3 posts have instilled in you at least some of the excitement I feel about the Interstate Traveler Hydrogen Superhighway. I’ve shown you that it’s clean. I’ve told you that it’s fast. I’ve given you a peek at it in flight. Now, let’s pause for a moment and discuss part of its role in humanitarian support.
More than a decade ago, when Justin Sutton walked through the countless mental steps and calculation blocks needed to propose the Interstate Traveler, his desire that the system be clean led to an inevitable photovoltaic cost analysis. No solar-powered rail system would be viable without one. During that process, he came to realize that a portion of the energy surplus he could build into the operating model could be given away under the right circumstances, pro bono publico.
When he speaks at the Green Earth Expo in May, Justin will explain the private-public partnership which facilitates his building the Interstate Traveler without public subsidies. For now, take my word for it. This system generates so much hydrogen that it’s practical to give away free energy to the surrounding communities.
How much energy are we talking? When I first heard Justin’s answer, I had to ask him to repeat himself. Once fully built along most of the multilane highways in North America, the Interstate Traveler will be the equivalent of building the Hoover Dam in each state - given away to municipal infrastructure for street lights, emergency power, hospital back-up power or whatever the local grid managers determine the priorities are.
If that weren’t enough, whereas construction of the Hoover Dam changed the local ecology of the Arizona/Nevada border, the Interstate Traveler will leave things pretty much the way they are. In fact, Justin’s technology is so environmentally benign that it will be possible to connect the east and west coasts of South America running straight through the Amazon without putting any indigenous peoples or wildlife at risk.
Now, that’s clean!
This amazing operating model is facilitated by a hydrogen pipeline, which Justin calls the conduit cluster, running under the rails, between the solar panels and support structure, pictured here:
The alpha system of the Interstate Traveler will be constructed in Michigan in 2008 between the cities of Ann Arbor and Detroit. I will attend the ribbon-cutting and promise to provide you with more details as they become available. Of course, if you come to the Green Earth Expo, you can speak with Justin Sutton face-to-face.
Sustainable Justice For All!
Corbett Kroehler
Ask
a Question or Leave a Comment
(0)
Digg This 
Del.icio.us