When the helmsman of the USS Enterprise likes your invention, you know you’re on the road to success. George Takei, who portrayed Sulu on “Star Trek” and has more than 8 million followers on social media, plugged a North Idaho couple’s idea for transforming roads, sidewalks and parking lots into solar surfaces. The next day, Scott and Julie Brusaw saw their crowdfunding campaign pass the $1 million goal. Takei learned about Solar Roadways of Sagle, Idaho, and tweeted Saturday: “I like the sound of that. Worth a look. Dare to dream, I say.” The Brusaws launched their Indiegogo online campaign April 21 to move their product toward manufacturing. They’ve received a flood of attention from news media, technology blogs and social media in the weeks since, and on Tuesday had raised more than $1.4 million from more than 33,000 contributors. That includes 73 who gave $1,000 each and seven who gave $10,000 each/Scott Maben, SR. More here.

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