1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements follows. Business and Basis of Presentation Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “us”, “our”) (formerly known as Superior Silver Mines, Inc.) was incorporated in the State of Idaho on January 22, 1962 as Superior Mines Company and then changed its name to Superior Silver Mines, Inc. The Company reincorporated as a Nevada corporation on December 27, 2010. The Company has been dormant for a number of years, and has no known mineral reserves. On December 29, 2010, Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company” or "Solar Wind"), completed a reverse merger (the “Merger”) with Solar Wind Energy, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 26, 2010 (“Solar Wind - Subsidiary”). In connection with the Merger, the Company issued to the stockholders of Solar Wind - Subsidiary in exchange for their Solar Wind - Subsidiary Common Stock, the right to receive an aggregate of 300,000,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. As a result of the reverse merger, Solar Wind - Subsidiary is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. For accounting purposes, Solar Wind - Subsidiary was the surviving entity. The transaction was accounted for as a recapitalization of Solar Wind - Subsidiary pursuant to which Solar Wind - Subsidiary was treated as the surviving and continuing entity although the Company is the legal acquirer rather than a reverse acquisition. Accordingly, the Company’s historical financial statements are those of Solar Wind - Subsidiary immediately following the consummation of the reverse merger. Also, going forward the business operations of Solar Wind - Subsidiary will become the Company’s principal business operations. On January 21, 2011, the Company changed its name to Clean Wind Energy Tower, Inc. and on March 11, 2013, changed its name to Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc. along with its wholly-owned subsidiary, a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, which changed its name from Clean Wind Energy, Inc. to Solar Wind Energy, Inc. In addition, effective January 24, 2011, the Company’s quotation symbol on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board was changed from SSVM.OB to CWET.OB and on March 11, 2013, in conjunction with our name change, the Company’s quotation symbol on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board was changed from CWET.OB to SWET.OB. Until the consummation of the Merger, the Company’s purpose was to seek, investigate and, if such investigation warranted, acquire an interest in business opportunities presented to it by persons or firms who, or which, desire to seek the perceived advantages of a publicly registered corporation. Because the Company had no operations and only nominal assets until the Merger, it was considered a shell company under rules promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In April 2014, the Company organized Arizona Green Power, LLC (“AGP”), an Arizona limited liability company for the purpose to acquire development property from the City of San Luis, Arizona. In connection with financing of the project, the Company reduced its ownership interest to 98.67% in connection with the issuance of a note payable by Arizona Green Power, LLC on April 7, 2014. On November 17, 2015, in connection with the Company land option agreement modification and equity financing, the Company reduced its ownership to 94.67%. Interim Financial Statements The following (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and (b) the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2015 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 2, 2017. Going Concern The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern. However, the Company has reported net losses from operations of $380,112 and $834,304 for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, accumulated deficit of $17,727,174 and total current liabilities in excess of current assets of $4,192,180 as of September 30, 2016. The Company does not have any revenues from operations and will be dependent on funds raise to satisfy its ongoing capital requirements for at least the next 12 months. The Company will require additional financing in order to execute its operating plan and continue as a going concern. The Company cannot predict whether this additional financing will be in the form of equity or debt, or be in another form. The Company may not be able to obtain the necessary additional capital on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. In any of these events, the Company may be unable to implement its current plans for expansion or respond to competitive pressures, any of these circumstances would have a material adverse effect on its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of assets and classification of assets and liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. Fair Value of Financial Instruments Our short-term financial instruments, including cash, other assets and accounts payable and accrued expenses consist primarily of instruments without extended maturities, the fair value of which, based on management’s estimates, reasonably approximate their book value. The fair value of our notes and advances payable is based on management estimates and reasonably approximates their book value based on their current maturity. Research and development In accordance with ASC 730, “Research and Development”, the Company expenses all research and development costs as incurred. The Company had incurred $-0- for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and $31,533 and $112,446 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, in research and development costs. The Company expects the research and development costs to increase in the future as it continues to invest in the infrastructure that is critical to achieve our business goals and objectives. Net Income (loss) per Common Share The Company computes net income (loss) per share under Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 260-10, Earnings Per Share (“ASC 260-10”). Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number of common and common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period. There is no effect on diluted loss per share since the common stock equivalents are anti-dilutive for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Dilutive common stock equivalents consist of shares issuable upon conversion of convertible notes, preferred stock and exercise of warrants. Fully diluted shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 were 21,624,528,337 and 20,944,545,057, respectively, and 8,928,327,806 and 8,580,473,518 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, certain common stock equivalents were excluded from the fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding in calculating the fully diluted earnings per share in the statement of operations due to anti-dilutive effects. Stock Based Compensation The Company account for its stock based awards in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 718-10, Compensation (“ASC 718-10”), which requires a fair value measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to our employees and directors, including restricted stock awards. We estimate the fair value of stock using the stock price on date of the approval of the award. The fair value is then expensed over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the performance period and the related amount recognized in our consolidated statements of operations. Stock-based compensation expense in connection with stock grants issued to consultants in exchange for services rendered for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $-0-. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, stock-based compensation was $-0- and $7,144, respectively. Derivative financial instruments Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging, Contracts in Entity’s own Equity (“ASC 815-40”) became effective for the Company on October 1, 2009. The Company’s convertible debt has reset provisions to the exercise price if the Company issues equity or a right to receive equity, at a price less than the exercise prices. In addition, the Company has the possibility of exceeding their common shares authorized when considering the number of possible shares that may be issuable to satisfy settlement provisions of convertible notes after consideration of all existing instruments that could be settled in shares. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements There are various updates recently issued, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or application to specific industries and are not expected to a have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements follows.

Business and Basis of Presentation

Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “us”, “our”) (formerly known as Superior Silver Mines, Inc.) was incorporated in the State of Idaho on January 22, 1962 as Superior Mines Company and then changed its name to Superior Silver Mines, Inc. The Company reincorporated as a Nevada corporation on December 27, 2010. The Company has been dormant for a number of years, and has no known mineral reserves.

On December 29, 2010, Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company” or "Solar Wind"), completed a reverse merger (the “Merger”) with Solar Wind Energy, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 26, 2010 (“Solar Wind - Subsidiary”). In connection with the Merger, the Company issued to the stockholders of Solar Wind - Subsidiary in exchange for their Solar Wind - Subsidiary Common Stock, the right to receive an aggregate of 300,000,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. As a result of the reverse merger, Solar Wind - Subsidiary is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

For accounting purposes, Solar Wind - Subsidiary was the surviving entity. The transaction was accounted for as a recapitalization of Solar Wind - Subsidiary pursuant to which Solar Wind - Subsidiary was treated as the surviving and continuing entity although the Company is the legal acquirer rather than a reverse acquisition. Accordingly, the Company’s historical financial statements are those of Solar Wind - Subsidiary immediately following the consummation of the reverse merger. Also, going forward the business operations of Solar Wind - Subsidiary will become the Company’s principal business operations.

On January 21, 2011, the Company changed its name to Clean Wind Energy Tower, Inc. and on March 11, 2013, changed its name to Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc. along with its wholly-owned subsidiary, a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, which changed its name from Clean Wind Energy, Inc. to Solar Wind Energy, Inc. In addition, effective January 24, 2011, the Company’s quotation symbol on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board was changed from SSVM.OB to CWET.OB and on March 11, 2013, in conjunction with our name change, the Company’s quotation symbol on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board was changed from CWET.OB to SWET.OB.

Until the consummation of the Merger, the Company’s purpose was to seek, investigate and, if such investigation warranted, acquire an interest in business opportunities presented to it by persons or firms who, or which, desire to seek the perceived advantages of a publicly registered corporation. Because the Company had no operations and only nominal assets until the Merger, it was considered a shell company under rules promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

In April 2014, the Company organized Arizona Green Power, LLC (“AGP”), an Arizona limited liability company for the purpose to acquire development property from the City of San Luis, Arizona. In connection with financing of the project, the Company reduced its ownership interest to 98.67% in connection with the issuance of a note payable by Arizona Green Power, LLC on April 7, 2014. On November 17, 2015, in connection with the Company land option agreement modification and equity financing, the Company reduced its ownership to 94.67%.

Interim Financial Statements

The following (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and (b) the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2015 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 2, 2017.

Going Concern

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern. However, the Company has reported net losses from operations of $380,112 and $834,304 for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, accumulated deficit of $17,727,174 and total current liabilities in excess of current assets of $4,192,180 as of September 30, 2016.

The Company does not have any revenues from operations and will be dependent on funds raise to satisfy its ongoing capital requirements for at least the next 12 months. The Company will require additional financing in order to execute its operating plan and continue as a going concern. The Company cannot predict whether this additional financing will be in the form of equity or debt, or be in another form. The Company may not be able to obtain the necessary additional capital on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. In any of these events, the Company may be unable to implement its current plans for expansion or respond to competitive pressures, any of these circumstances would have a material adverse effect on its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of assets and classification of assets and liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Our short-term financial instruments, including cash, other assets and accounts payable and accrued expenses consist primarily of instruments without extended maturities, the fair value of which, based on management’s estimates, reasonably approximate their book value. The fair value of our notes and advances payable is based on management estimates and reasonably approximates their book value based on their current maturity.

Research and development

In accordance with ASC 730, “Research and Development”, the Company expenses all research and development costs as incurred. The Company had incurred $-0- for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and $31,533 and $112,446 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, in research and development costs. The Company expects the research and development costs to increase in the future as it continues to invest in the infrastructure that is critical to achieve our business goals and objectives.

Net Income (loss) per Common Share

The Company computes net income (loss) per share under Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 260-10, Earnings Per Share (“ASC 260-10”). Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number of common and common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period. There is no effect on diluted loss per share since the common stock equivalents are anti-dilutive for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Dilutive common stock equivalents consist of shares issuable upon conversion of convertible notes, preferred stock and exercise of warrants. Fully diluted shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 were 21,624,528,337 and 20,944,545,057, respectively, and 8,928,327,806 and 8,580,473,518 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, certain common stock equivalents were excluded from the fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding in calculating the fully diluted earnings per share in the statement of operations due to anti-dilutive effects.

Stock Based Compensation

The Company account for its stock based awards in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 718-10, Compensation (“ASC 718-10”), which requires a fair value measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to our employees and directors, including restricted stock awards. We estimate the fair value of stock using the stock price on date of the approval of the award. The fair value is then expensed over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the performance period and the related amount recognized in our consolidated statements of operations.

Stock-based compensation expense in connection with stock grants issued to consultants in exchange for services rendered for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $-0-. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, stock-based compensation was $-0- and $7,144, respectively.

Derivative financial instruments

Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging, Contracts in Entity’s own Equity (“ASC 815-40”) became effective for the Company on October 1, 2009. The Company’s convertible debt has reset provisions to the exercise price if the Company issues equity or a right to receive equity, at a price less than the exercise prices. In addition, the Company has the possibility of exceeding their common shares authorized when considering the number of possible shares that may be issuable to satisfy settlement provisions of convertible notes after consideration of all existing instruments that could be settled in shares.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

There are various updates recently issued, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or application to specific industries and are not expected to a have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

SOLAR WIND ENERGY TOWER, INC. 10-Q