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.

Officials from the U.S. Army's Tank and Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center and executives from Chevron Technology Ventures and Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center today dedicated a hydrogen energy station evaluation and demonstration program at the Selfridge Air National Guard base in Harrison Township.

This inter-agency project between the United States Departments of Defense and Energy will provide participants with a better understanding of hydrogen's potential because it tests the technology in a real-world setting.

DTE Energy and Ann Arbor's music venue The Ark Thursday announced a  partnership to promote renewable energy in Michigan.

November will be Green Energy month at The Ark. During the month, all electricity used at the concert venue will be offset by renewable power provided under DTE Energy's GreenCurrents renewable energy program.

Additionally, anyone who enrolls in GreenCurrents at The Ark in November will receive a free music CD or a ticket to an upcoming Ark performance.

Investor confidence in clean technologies is on the rise, according to the latest quarterly venture capital investment report from the Ann Arbor-based Cleantech Network.

Investment in cleantech reached an all-time high as venture capitalists in North America and Europe invested a record $1.74 billion in the third quarter.

This brings the year-to-date level of investment in cleantech to $3.64 billion, a 13 percent increase over the same period in 2006. Cleantech Network will discuss more details at Cleantech Forum XIV now under way in Toronto.