"Honestly I wonder every time it comes up whether the solar road was a straightforward grift or something more nefarious like an attempt to make environmentalists look ridiculous."

It is easy to forget, but the majority of people hate math and are not scientists. The idea of solar panels sounds and feels good, so it must be good.

And I strongly feel and identify as a environmentalist, but sadly I have to state, that many fellow environmentalists are acting ridiculous, or rather naive.