Trump suggests solar panels to help pay for $20 billion border wall
President Trump took a further step back this week from his pledge to force Mexico to pay for the border wall, instead saying he is considering sticking solar panels on top of the fence and selling the energy to help fund the costs.
The proposal — which he said he came up with on his own and was revealing for the first time — is the latest in a long line of suggestions for covering a price tag that could easily top $20 billion.
“We’re talking about the southern border, lots of sun, lots of heat. We’re thinking about building the wall as a solar wall so it creates energy and pays for itself,” the president told supporters at a rally in Iowa on Wednesday night. “And this way, Mexico will have to pay much less money. And that’s good, right?”
Analysts said it’s doubtful that solar energy could pay for the entire cost of the wall but could provide a decent sum — the same as many of the other options suggested on Capitol Hill and across the country.
At least three plans have been introduced in Congress.
Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, has written the El Chapo Act, which would take money forfeited by drug kingpins such as the infamous former head of the Sinaloa drug cartel, and earmark it for wall construction. Mr. Cruz said the U.S. government is seeking some $14 billion in forfeited drug proceeds from El Chapo alone.
Source:- http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/22/donald-trump-considers-solar-panels-on-border-wall/?utm_source=RSS_Feedutm_medium=RSS
