Renewable Energy Trends

When in 2005 the federal Production Tax Creditsrenewable energy resources and operates entirely
(PTC) for companies producing renewable poweroff the grid.
was renewed, it sent a message far and wide thatThe World: The Australian government has a stated
the renewable energy industry was worth gettingobjective of increasing the proportion of its total
into, with the promise of profitability, energyelectricity production that comes from renewable
efficiency, and social/environmental "good karma" allenergy sources by 78% by the year 2010. The
in one tidy package. The following are some of theUnited Kingdom's goals are a bit more modest but
latest ways we've seen this collective foray intopraiseworthy nonetheless, shooting for 10% from
renewable energies take shape.only 3.6%, also by the year 2010.
The Workforce: Businesses are given tax credits forThe Future: An inventor by the name of Todd
changing over their sources of electricity to certainLivingstone has a patent currently pending on a
renewable energies, steadily increasing the demandtechnology to harness the power packed into
for workers in every area of the industry - fromlightning bolt, estimated at 11 gigawatts each. A
research and development to manufacturing toCanadian engineer believes that his Atmospheric
distribution to installation, service and support.Vortex Engine is the way to tame a funnel cloud
More and more states are taking the federal(also known as a tornado). The "Manchester Bobber"
government's lead and implementing their own publicis a patented new device for harnessing the power
incentive programs and benefit funds to encourageof the up and down motion of waves.
greater renewable energy usage, with the sameFloating wind systems. Harnessing the power of
result. According to a report released by the Nationaldifferences in atmospheric pressure between
Renewable Energy Laboratory, in the five yearsgeographically distant cities. Semi-transparent
between 2001 and 2006 the voluntary demand forphotovoltaic glass used as windows in office buildings.
renewable energies increased a thousand-fold. TheMIT's self-described "Manhattan Project" for new,
bottom line is as clear as sunlight - the renewablerenewable sources of power. Installing devices in
energy industry creates jobs.highway off-ramps that harness the power of
The Corporations: General Electric, Whole Foodsvehicles braking. Generate biomass energy from
Market, Safeway, Starbucks, General Motors, Kinko's,trees downed in hurricanes.
FedEx - these are but some of the world-leadingAnd if we look further down the horizon, what else
companies that have made and continue to make ancan we see? Maybe the next big thing will be Focus
active and aggressive switch to renewable energies.Fusion, a technology for producing new zero-emission
In the case of many companies, this comes in thepower plants the size of gas stations. Maybe it'll be
form of purchasing renewable energy credits toBlackligh Power, a technology that harnesses power
supplant their local utility usage. In other cases, thefrom particles called "hydrinos" which are even smaller
forays into renewable power run deeper, producingthan atoms of hydrogen. Or maybe it'll be
their own biofuels, setting up their own wind farms,electromagnetic energy. Whatever renewable energy
and investing in research and development intotrends we have in store for us next, there is one
improved renewable energy technologies.thing we can all count on: as the demand for these
The Military: The Pentagon has ordered all branchestypes of renewable power sources continues its
of the U.S. military to curb energy use by 2% at allsteady rise, funding for research and development
bases and facilities through pursuit of alternativeinto new and better ways of harnessing renewable
power sources, including wind and solar energies.energy will also increase, leading to more efficient and
The President: President Bush's ranch, the Crawfordaffordable energy alternatives for us all.
Ranch, is equipped with all the latest and greatest in