Bob Dylan, who said the answer was blowing in the wind, would be proud. The United States continues to lead the world in wind power growth, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Energy today. 

U.S. wind power capacity increased by 27 percent in 2006, and the U.S. had the fastest growing wind power capacity in the world in 2005 and 2006, according to the Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006, which provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of development and trends in the U.S. wind power market. 

Most notably, the report concludes that U.S. wind power capacity increased by 27 percent in 2006; and that

Read the rest of this entry »

<small>Photo: Dano</small>

Two bills recently introduced in Congress involve phasing out old technologies and setting a new standard for industry, continuing what seems like a relentless march toward reducing companies’ and individuals’ carbon footprints.

HR 1547 , introduced in the House by Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif.,  on March 15th, this bill would require all light bulbs to be as efficient as compact flourescents by 2012.

S. 1227 , introduced in the Senate by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.,  on April 26th, this bill would ban all new coal plants with old pulverized coal technology, including 150 currently forecasted to come online in the next decade.