Alternative energy no longer is just a pipe dream of the environmental movement.

Our nation's dependence on an uncertain supply of foreign oil, concerns about carbon dioxide emissions and other factors gradually are boosting the economic viability of developing energy sources that utilize the sun, wind, water and other means.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm wants Michigan to become a leader in alternative energy not so much because of the environmental benefits but rather for the tremendous potential to create jobs in the state.

November 21, 2007

Dozens of cities and school districts are getting good marks for implementing hybrid buses that run on both diesel and electricity. In doing so, they are helping to commercialize a technology that proponents say will save fuel costs and prevent the release of harmful emissions.

Utilities are making a contribution to the cause. Duke Energy, Progress Energy, Dominion North Carolina Power and North Carolina electric cooperatives are participating with school districts nationally -- all part of a broader business and government consortium interested in seeing electric vehicles take off. The endeavor is well-timed given the attention paid to oil security and climate change along with the technical improvements in battery technology. While commercialization is the ultimate goal market support is still largely absent.

Kathryn Russell, a Michigan GREEN board member and  fifth grade teacher at Graveraet Intermediate School in Marquette, was recently named one of two inaugural recipients of the  Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship, named in honor of National Geographic Society Chairman Gilbert M. Grosvenor's lifetime commitment to geography education.  As part of her award, she will travel on a 10-day (Nov. 23rd - Dec. 2nd) Lindblad Expedition to the Galapagos Islands.

Posted on 11/19/2007 3:05:09 PM

Thursday's traditional Thanksgiving Day football game in Detroit will be the first carbon-neutral contest in National Football League history.

Ford Field and the Detroit Lions announced Monday that they will offset greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions for the Lions' 68th annual Turkey Day game.

The organizations will purchase offsets through Detroit-based Carbon Credit Environmental Services.

November 19, 2007

It's been more than a year. But, California's passage of the nation's first global warming law is still being defined. And, it will continue to evolve in the coming years as the state grapples with how to cut its greenhouse gas emissions.

The law there, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2007, sets out to reduce California's heat-trapping pollutants to 1990 levels by 2020. The state is off to a notable start by enacting rules to increase its renewable energy supply to 33 percent by 2020 as well as by creating new energy efficiency performance standards and cleaning up motor vehicle emissions.