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Green Dreams

One of the roadblocks to alternative energy sources is that they often cost more than traditional (and more polluting) sources of energy, such as coal. But as concerns about global warming mount, investors are starting to pump more green into green solutions.

Last year, for example, U.S. investors committed $63 billion to clean energy ventures, up from $49 billion the year before and just $30 billion in 2004. Private investment in alternative energy sources not only pays dividends to those who bankroll the ventures, it pays off for the average consumer by ultimately lowering the price of new technology.

For example, the cost of providing wind power has dropped by more than half, from 8-10 cents to 3.5-4 cents per kWh since 1990. Solar power is also cheaper. But many alternative energy programs still rely heavily on government subsidies, which can be unreliable since they come and go on political whims.

That’s why investments such as the $100 million recently poured into a company that makes solar panels can be so important. Nanosolar, a Silicon Valley firm, is looking for ways to cut the cost of producing solar panels, which would make them more affordable to consumers. The founders of Google recently committed to installing more solar panels at their Silicon Valley campus, hoping to provide up to 30 percent of their electricity needs through clean energy sources.

The more private investors climb on board, the less governments will have to subsidize these endeavors. That could ultimately lead to making clean energy more affordable for everyone. And that could lead to reduced dependence on coal and fewer greenhouse gas emissions – a payout for everyone on the planet.

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To learn what you can do to slow global warming, visit www.fightglobalwarming.com.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org