Volume 122, Part 13
Proceedings of Congress and General Congressional Publications
Congressional Record
Extensions of Remarks
94th Congress, 1st Session
Tuesday, May 25, 1976
Pages 15458-1549

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1976-pt13/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1976-pt13-1.pdf

Solar Energy Community Utility Programs

The Honorable Shirley Chisholm of New York in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, May 25, 1976 shared an article from the New York Magazine entitled “Solar Energy Now: Why Aren’t We Using It More?” by Andrew Tobias. The following is an excerpt in reference to the Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar.

It is only in the field of solar electric generation-turning the sun’s rays into electricity, not just heat-that major technological advances are needed (and being achieved). Even now, photovoltaic cells are becoming economical for low-power applications in outlying areas, such as to power buoy lights at sea. Someday orbiting power stations may collect the sun’s energy in space (where it is perpetually sunny) and beam it via harmless microwaves to receiving stations on earth. There it would be converted to electricity and fed into the national power grid. Electric “city cars,” like the ones already available from Sebring-Vanguard, could then plug in, charge up, and drive off on what would be, indirectly, batteries full of sun-shine. This scheme, the brainchild of Arthur D. Little vice-president Peter Glaser, is seen by some as a possible means by which the nation’s space program could eventually become economically self-sustaining.

New York Magazine, Solar Energy Now: Why Aren’t We Using It More? By Andrew Tobias