Volume 122, Part 15
Proceedings of Congress and General Congressional Publications
Congressional Record
Senate
94th Congress, 2nd Session
Thursday, June 17, 1976
Page 18925

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1976-pt15/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1976-pt15-4-1.pdf

Solar Energy is a Viable And Available Energy Source

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, May 31, 1975; Solar Energy Now: Why Aren’t We Using It More? By Andrew Tobias