Cleantech forecast: guardedly optimistic

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.mercurynews.com/greenenergy/ci_11345775

Cleantech forecast: guardedly optimistic

By Matt Nauman

Mercury News
Posted: 12/31/2008 12:00:00 AM PST

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SOLAR

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"You can measure in months, not years, how far we are away from being able to produce solar power at prices that are competitive with fossil fuels," he said.

WIND

After natural gas, wind has been the second-largest source of new U.S. power generation over the past four years. The America Wind Energy Association said wind accounted for 35 percent of new power added to the grid in 2008.

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ELECTRIC CARS

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This year will be "a watershed" for electric vehicles, said Salzman, whose firm lists both Tesla and Better Place in its clean-tech portfolio. Big automakers will announce production of electric cars "in volume,'' he predicted. "I'm talking hundreds of thousands."

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency will get a big boost in 2009, suggested Nicholas Parker, the founder of the The Cleantech Group, in a recent blog. Why? Energy-efficient actions, such as modernizing the grid or insulating homes, creates jobs, boosts competitiveness, reduces carbon emissions and reduces the demand for imported energy. Also, energy efficiency and can be accomplished relatively quickly.
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