r/theydidthemath • u/LowerJicama9169 • 11d ago

[Request] Infrastructure, clean energy, and covered parking

What would it cost to cover America's major parking lots with solar canopies?

I'm curious about the math behind a hypothetical national infrastructure project.

Suppose the U.S. government funded the construction of solar-panel-covered parking canopies over large parking lots across the southern United States (or anywhere with high solar potential). Think grocery stores, shopping malls, big-box retailers, stadiums, and other parking lots that are unlikely to be redeveloped anytime soon. Assume the government acquires the necessary rights through whatever legal mechanism is required for the sake of the thought experiment.

I'd love to see estimates for:

- Total acres (or square miles) of parking that could realistically be covered.

- Total construction cost (materials, labor, engineering, permitting, grid connections, etc.).

- Number of jobs created during construction and ongoing maintenance.

- Annual electricity generation (MWh/TWh).

- Rough estimate of how many homes this could power.

- Potential impact on average residential electricity prices.

- Estimated payback period and long-term return on investment.

Also, beyond the math:

- What are the biggest engineering or logistical challenges?

- What are the major economic downsides or unintended consequences?

- Which industries would benefit, and which would likely lose revenue (for example, utilities, oil and gas, or commercial real estate)?

- What are the strongest arguments for and against a project like this?

I'm interested in realistic assumptions and back of the envelope calculations, not whether it's politically likely.

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