Tomasz, you are probably right. I should do more, having spent four or five years going to city council meetings, writing letters, being on committees, spending hours researching things pertaining to storm-water retention, constructed wetlands, making presentations to the mayor fighting the Environmental Protection Agency, going head to head with the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District on storm-water issues -- all which was futile. But that was then and this is now. 

I haven't been bitching much lately, because you are right, I'm not doing anything. They beat me. So I am running away for a couple of months, recharging my batteries. What have you been doing? 

As far as Germany, even a small Goggle search would show that it has less sun then Duluth does. I don't believe there's no money. The state has plenty of money to kick in for a billion-dollar football stadium. The thing is, I'd happy to see some small steps; no need to jump in over your head.

No problem, Bret. I shouldn't even have started this, when you are not doing anything you have got no right to bitch. 

I just saw all that potential and then you look at the rest of area lot of unused ground. I'm sure it's slated for ind. development but you could put so much solar there, same as at the Rice Lake dump. 

They can probably never build anything on the dump, but you could do solar. They now have these huge rolls of solar voltaics that you just roll out, cover the dump. I think in Atlanta that is being done. I shouldn't have mentioned Scotland either, off thread, no relevance, except maybe the fact that five miles from where I'll be they are putting up a wind farm to supply 35,000 homes. Scotland is trying to be 100 percent renewable by 2020. Good luck with that, but they are trying.

How about that? Of course someone would pick up on this. It's common sense. It's a logical thing. I have always thought how great it would be if the land in the middle of freeway to the cities was raspberries and apples and such. It would be a great project for school kids in all grades to be a part off. It would teach them how to raise plants from seeds all the way to making jam. There is no reason there couldn't be a little solar action going on.

Rhetoric Guy, you are right. After I posted that I realized that wouldn't work too well. You still could put solar there.

If you want to get really crazy you could help start a company and make them right here in town. I predict down the road, maybe ten years everybody gone to use something this.

Case study: Regent Street  

So weird, this is real close to where I'm going. I'll be checking it out.

Here is another company with prices and specs.

Solar Illuminations -  Solar Street Lights & Parking Lot Lighting

Just read an article that U.S. army corp. of engineers has been installing solar streetlights in Iraq since 2008.

Shane, for a minute I thought you found the Achilles heel, but look at these guys. I know there must be some reason this idea wouldn't work, just haven't seen it yet.

I'll put a hundred dollars on the Cobra. We should just try one out. Looks like there about 3500, maybe one of the Homegrown stages could be called the Cobra Stage and get some donations, raise a little money, buy one of these. Gotta check the cold battery thing. If it don't work, ain't no good.

You folks get one and when I get back in May we'll put it on my corner. Do that and I'll build that boulevard rainwater garden on my dime, get me permits to do the curb cuts and check for gas and water and if I can't stop at least 85 percent of the runoff on my side of the street from going in the drain, that be failure. I'll be aiming for none in 1 inch rainfall and be happy with 50 percent.