Massachusetts-based Ko-Solar wants to put solar panels in places no one really notices, like on industrial building roofs, in parking lots, and sound barriers on highways. It may finally get its chance, in the Boston area. And that will be a US first.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) yesterday announced that it has signed a letter of intent to build a highway solar noise barrier project along Interstate 95 in Lexington, on an existing noise barrier on Route 128…

The state will observe the installation for a couple of years, observing a number of things. It wants to ensure the metal grids don’t damage the sound barriers and also wants to know how weather affects the solar installation, how and whether the installation impacts the effectiveness of the sound barriers, and whether any glare occurs from the solar panels that could impact drivers.