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.” (more…)

By Shermakaye Bass

Celebrities trade on their celebrity and always have – sometimes in not so earth-friendly ways. But among the nobler echelons of Hollywood, Manhattan and London, renown is fuel for green power. Instead of selling handbags made of rare reptilian skins, some of The Biz’s top stars try to protect these rare species, using their reputations, checkbooks and Rolodexes to aid our ailing planet.

Atop the green mountain are people like Robert Redford, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ed Begley – well-known spokesmen for the environment. But how many of us plebes realized that Pierce Brosnan is one of celebrity’s most committed eco-activists, supporting at least a dozen charities, or that Ted Danson is a key player and board member of the marine juggernaut Oceana.org.

There are many more, actually – dozens of celebrities who’ve thrown their green ideas into the ring, not just to green-wash or prop their careers, but to do the right thing, it seems. Ever wonder exactly what these famous stewards are committed to and why?

Here’s a sketchbook of five who are putting their money and hearts into making strides for Planet Earth: (more…)

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. (more…)

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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In Columbus, Ohio, yesterday Mayor Michael Coleman and his staff biked from their homes to the Ohio Statehouse, jacking up their heart rates and kicking-off the city’s 20-year Bicentennial Bikeways Plan.

Photo: City of Columbus
 
Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman

In Boston, Mayor Thomas Menino fought a stiff wind cycling a half mile from City Hall to Post Office Square to launch Massachusett’s Bay State Bike Week.

They weren’t the only ones. Across the country bicyclists and officials making a point about pollution-free commuting are celebrating national bike month, which pedaled into high gear this week, which is designated national Bike-to-Work Week in many American cities, as well as overseas. “The soaring price of gas is helping jump start a transportation revolution in Columbus,” said Mayor Coleman, “and we are proud to promote biking as an alternative to the automobile for commuters as well as recreation.” (more…)

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. (more…)

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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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. (more…)

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With the chorus of ethanol critics becoming impossible to ignore, biofuel advocates are under pressure to pursue options that don’t threaten the world’s food supplies. Researchers at the University of Texas announced late last month that they’ve developed a promising contender: (more…)

The greening of America’s college campuses is happening from coast to coast. Stanford University hosts a green dorm project; the University of Texas has started the McCombs Green Team; and Northwestern University sponsors the annual Green City Summer Institute.

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, home to some of the world’s finest scientists and engineers, the green umbrella program is called the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) and like the university, it aims high, aspiring to be a “catalyst for transforming the energy landscape,” says Susan Hockfield, MIT president. (more…)