Realizing the Renewable Energy Economy: U.S. Legislation on Climate Change

(This is the third and final article in a series about the Smart Grid and Green Technology)

President Obama gave the following speech at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen on Friday, December 18^th. 

“I came here today not to talk, but to act.” – President Obama

In this speech and through the subsequent Copenhagen Accord, President Obama has committed to leading the U.S. in addressing climate change on a national and global scale.  And his formula for addressing climate change seems simple enough: mitigation, transparency, financing.  But as World Wildlife Fund President and CEO Carter Roberts commented, “The ultimate test of his leadership will be engaging the Senate and delivering action in Congress.”

President Obama’s leadership and fiscal support for addressing climate change as a nation will undoubtedly accelerate renewable energy projects and make a compelling business case for starting others.  However, national, state and local legislation is needed to quickly incentivize and sustain a renewable energy economy.

How Green Companies are Cashing In (part 2 – Infinia)

Building solar power systems with the help of auto manufacturers.

Infinia has persuaded top auto-parts suppliers (who are currently eager for work) to build solar power collectors using old auto engines.  The old-fashioned Stirling engines they are utilizing run as long as one end of the engine is kept hotter than the other, regardless of the source of heat.  Infinia can convert 24% of sunlight hitting an immense metallic dish into electricity with the Stirling as a generator, which is a better conversion rate than most solar panels have.