The New Sputnik

Juan Cole / Truthdig May 11, 2011 In 1957, a United States shocked by the Soviet launch of the Sputnik 1 satellite bounced into action to compete on the world stage. More than 50 years later, in May of 2011, the U.S. is facing a new challenge.The House of Representatives in 2011 is full of politicians who actively despise science and higher education, hate environmentalism, deny global climate change and are in the back pocket of Big Oil. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

The Global Rush for Green Jobs

Staff / Truthdig Jan 19, 2011 This line from a BBC article about a $150 million tidal power project that will be partially built and deployed in India speaks to the highly competitive global market for the jobs of the future: "As much of the manufacturing as possible will take place in Gujarat, taking advantage of the skills base in India's booming wind turbine industry." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Pumps $2 Billion Into Solar Efforts

Staff / Truthdig Jul 3, 2010 President Obama announced the award of nearly $2 billion in economic stimulus funds for new solar plants, saying it will create thousands of jobs and boost the use of renewable energy. The announcement came just a day after a gloomy June employment report. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Prince of Tides

Staff / Truthdig Mar 24, 2010 Hoping to become the “Saudi Arabia of tidal energy,” the Scottish government is offering 10 million pounds to spur innovation in wave power. Some say the incentive is unnecessary, since private companies are already racing to figure out the best way to generate electricity from the ocean. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Power Plant for the Backyard

Staff / Truthdig Feb 22, 2010 The impresario behind this newfangled clean-energy box sees one of his mini power plants in every home, but it's not clear if the little miracles even work. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

New Kind of Power Plant Gets Energy From Salt Water

Staff / Truthdig Nov 26, 2009 A Norwegian company thinks it can squeeze enough electricity out of the natural phenomenon of osmosis to power China. Right now the company's plant can barely heat a tea kettle, but officials hope to power a village in a few years, and a lot more after that. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Pushes Climate Bill in Cambridge

Staff / Truthdig Oct 24, 2009 Continuing on his Doing Too Many Things at Once ’09 Tour, President Barack Obama made a stopover at Cambridge, Mass., on Friday to push for "the passage of comprehensive legislation that will finally make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy in America." Echoing himself on the subject of health care reform, Obama warned that the negative buzz from naysayers will get louder as the pro-reform team inches closer to its goal. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sun Shines Again on Chez Vidal

Kasia Anderson / Truthdig Jul 28, 2007 Those readers who have followed the saga of Gore Vidal's bid to harness the sun may be heartened to hear that the esteemed author has emerged victorious in his green-minded mission: Vidal's solar system is back in working order. Here, he offers a wry retort to counter his detractors, along with a spirited response to a recent New York Times report about solar power that left him quite cold, it would seem. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Consumers Opt for Green Power Despite Price Tag

Staff / Truthdig Jul 30, 2006 In the absence of genuine government policy, more and more consumers are spending their own cash to support green energy. Utility companies in 36 states offer energy from renewable sources to their customers for an added fee. Despite increasingly high energy costs, enrollment in such programs is up 20%, according to the Energy Department. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Report: 162 Million Africans at Direct Risk From Global Warming

Staff / Truthdig May 16, 2006 A charity group warns that over 100 million people in sub-Saharan Africa could die by the end of the century if global warming continues its march unabated. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sweden Plans to Be World’s First Oil-Free Economy

Staff / Truthdig Feb 8, 2006 The progressive European enclave has set a 15-year limit on its switch to renewable energy. | storyHey, they won't even have to get on a plane to collect their Nobel Prize! Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )