Does this make sense?

[streeter69]

I just seen this online (broken link removed)

For $10 billion, I think they should put up earth based solar panels and be done with it.

 

[mayhem]

The problem lies in the energy denisty per square foot I think. Terrestrially, you can't get much energy out of sinlight...the atmosphere filters alot out, the sun goes down at night, you get cloudy or rainy days and forget about snow. Up in space you can put an array in a spot where its in the sunlight permanenty and around the clock, you have no chance of couds or rain and no atmosphere to filter out the UV and IR rays that contain a significant portion of sunlight's energy. You could have multiple beam receivers stationed around the country and send power to all of them simultaneously wiht the ability to cut the feed to ano of them due to bad ground weather or maintenance needs.

Just need to make sure you setup a good, strong no fly zone or you'll wind up making popcorn out of some guy's cessna.