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By John DeFore

In a mammoth report being issued this month, the U.S. Department of Energy lays out a detailed scenario in which, by the year 2030, one fifth of America’s electricity could come from wind.

The report, which is the work not only of DOE employees but of academics and a wide array of industry figures, announces itself as an effort “to start the discussion” about the various issues involved in attaining what they label the 20% Wind Scenario. The authors conclude that a “20% Wind Scenario in 2030, while ambitious could be feasible if the significant challenges identified in this report are overcome.” [Read more →]

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What’s it take to stop drivers from polluting the air with their smoky old cars? A little green, apparently. That was the simple thought behind a North Texas plan aimed at getting older cars off the road to help the Dallas/Fort Worth region improve its air quality and meet EPA mandates. [Read more →]

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By John DeFore

Among the most drooled-over new home entertainment products today are the OLED TVs recently introduced by Sony.Standing for Organic Light Emitting Diode, the innovation eliminates the need for back lighting — allowing for unbelievably thin monitors — and produces pictures that almost everyone agrees are far superior to plasma and LCD. The trouble is, they could be nearly as big a step backward in environmental terms as they are a step forward in aesthetic ones. [Read more →]

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Photo: Susanne Miller / USFWS

By Barbara Kessler

The polar bear will be granted “threatened” status under the Endangered Species Act, the Bush Administration announced today, because the Arctic ice the animal needs to survive is shrinking and scientific projections show it will jeopardize the polar bear’s survival prospects for decades to come. But the decision, delivered with caveats limiting its scope, will likely chill environmentalists’ hopes that protection for the polar bear could be pivotal in the fight against global warming.

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By John DeFore

Nissan Motor Company took the occasion of its financial-results stock exchange reporting (nearly $7 billion in profits from $90+ billion revenues in fiscal 2007) Tuesday in Tokyo to make an announcement of interest to those of us who don’t own stock. In 2010, the company plans to release an all-electric car in the United States and Japan, which should make it the first major auto company to do so. [Read more →]

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By Alison Maxwell

You’re going green, so don’t forget Fido! Environmentally-friendly and socially-conscious green pet products are popping up all over the Web. Here are a few:

• At Eco Pet Life, you’ll find the perfect green starter kit to make your own natural flea and bug spray, biscuits, cleansing wipes and dry powder shampoo ($28).
• The Go Organic kit is no-commitment way to see if Spot’s taste buds warm to organic dog food ($16). The kit includes a three-pound bag of dry Organix adult canine formula, two cans of Organix adult canine formula and a box of Organix chicken-flavor dog cookies, all packaged in a reusable container.

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By John DeFore

Homeowners know that installing attic insulation isn’t just Green- but greenback-friendly. But even those who’ve spent the
hot hours rolling baffles between rafters may be missing a big way to lower heating and cooling bills: If your attic-access ladder is anything like the one in my old house — a trap door whose dilapidated state suggests the number (and weight) of repairmen who have climbed up and down over the years — chances are it provides plenty of opportunity for drafts. [Read more →]