Commentary

It was not that long ago that we used to be surprised when we opened the newspaper or turned on the TV and saw press coverage about global warming or renewable energy.  The change is remarkable (although I guess you could make the glass half empty argument that real change has not arrived yet).

Take a look at this list of articles from the New York Times during the past four weeks. 

11/7 - The Carbon Calculus - an article about carbon dioxide (CO2) and at what price point does the cost of CO2 pollution give renewable energy the economic advantage.
11/7 - For Fiji Water, a Big List of Green Goals - an article about how a bottled water company is responding to criticism of the environmental damage of putting water into bottles and trucking it around the world.
11/7 - Taming the Guzzlers That Power the World Wide Web
11/7 - Foreign Firms Envision Wind Farms Dotting the U.S.
11/7 - Aiding the Environment, A Nanostep at a Time
11/7 - For Suppliers, the Pressure Is On
11/9 - Rising Demand for Oil Provokes New Energy Crisis - an article about how worldwide demand for oil is outstripping supply
11/9 - Fuel Without the Fossil - an article about a company trying to efficiently create gasoline from unwanted biomass such as wood chips, corn stalks, etc.
11/12 - Voter Anger May Free Up Energy Bills
11/13 - Challenges to Both Left and Right on Global Warming - about how the political left and right are being challenged on global warming by a new centrist view.
11/14 - Plan to Cut Jet Pollution Is Approved In Europe
11/15 - Court Rejects Fuel Standards on Trucks - about a legal ruling against the Bush Administration and the auto industry.  The ruling asks why small trucks and SUVs are not held to the same fuel efficiency standards as cars.  (Yeah, why is that?)
11/15 - In Eco-Friendly Factory, Low-Guilt Potato Chips - Frito-Lay's efforts to cut the large amount of CO2 and waste water created by making potato chips.
11/16 - Wal-Mart's Environmental Report Card
11/21 - Plant Approved, With Carbon Study - Indiana approves a new coal-fired power plant subject to results of carbon study.
11/23 - Sweden Turns to a Promising Power Source, With Flaws - about Sweden's growing wind energy industry.
11/25 - In Miles of Alleys, Chicago Finds Its Next Environmental Frontier - about how Chicago is greening its 2000 miles of alleyways with a new permeable surface that allows rainwater to filter through to the water table rather than being diverted into streams and rivers.
11/25 - Luxury Lodging For the Eco-Tourist
11/26 - Philips to Pay $2.7 Billion for Lighting Firm - Philips is buying a firm that will increase its share of the energy-efficient lighting market.
11/27 - China Deal Gives Lift to Revival of Fission - about the revival of nuclear power, particularly in China where coal-fired power plants are choking the air with soot.  Nuclear is not renewable but it is the focus on and cost of carbon dioxide which is driving interest in nuclear.
11/28 - New Method for Making Diesel Fuel Uses Vegetable Oils
11/30 - Study Details How U.S. Could Cut 28% of Greenhouse Gases - this one is close to our hearts here at EnergyRace.  A McKinsey Company report shows that the US could reduce CO2 emissions by 28% pretty easily.
12/2 - I'm Dreaming of an Eco-Christmas
12/2 - Climate Talks Take on Added Urgency After Report
12/2 - California Grapples With Emissions Law

One of the things that is so impressive about this list, other than its length, is that the articles are mostly about new businesses, business opportunities and lifestyle changes that we have made.  The articles are not hand-wringing disaster-is-coming articles.