March 2010

Joel Makower, GreenBiz.com

It wasn't 20 years ago today, but close enough: About this time in 1990, my book, "The Green Consumer," hit the bookstores. The world has changed dramatically over those 20 years.

U.S. Department of Energy

by Energy Secretary Steven Chu

America is on the cusp of reviving its nuclear power industry. Last month President Obama pledged more than $8 billion in conditional loan guarantees for what will be the first U.S. nuclear power plant to break ground in nearly three decades. And with the new authority granted by the president's 2011 budget request, the Department of Energy will be able to support between six and nine new reactors.

For the next few decades, energy efficiency is one of the lowest cost options for reducing US carbon emissions.

by Mindy S. Lubber, GreenBiz.com

Consider these morsels from last week's Wall Street Journal: "By 2050, there could be two billion cars on the road -- twice as many as there are today." "Energy demand is expected to be 35 percent higher in 2030 than in 2005." "Pollution of drinking water is Americans' No. 1 environmental concern."

By Marc Stoiber on GreenBiz.com

While working on a global launch of a green household product, I had the opportunity to speak to the project chemist about the product's truly revolutionary ingredients.

"It’s incredible that you could come up stuff like this -- it’s so much less harmful for the planet, and works as well as the old stuff. How long did it take to develop it?’"I asked.

He answered nonchalantly "Oh, we’ve actually had this stuff for years. It’s nothing new."

by Clay Nesler, Johnson Controls

It has been over a month since returning from Copenhagen and I often reflect on what happened and ponder what will happen next.  While many around the world viewed the lack of a legally-binding treaty as a major disappointment, I went to Copenhagen with rather low expectations and actually see some light at the end of the tunnel.

by Wood Turner, GreenBiz.com

It's easy to get the impression that there is no hope for climate action.

Perhaps you've heard that the recent snowstorms in Washington, D.C., buried any chance to pass a comprehensive energy and climate bill? Or that hacked emails have set the climate movement back a decade?