Photo: Hulagway, in the Creative Commons page on flickr.

Well, it looks like Google is getting on the geothermal bandwagon, according to a Wall Street Journal blogger. The company has

invested $10.25 million in a pair of companies working on “enhanced geothermal systems.”This is a newer approach to geothermal, running water through hot rocks to get steam for electricity. The WSJ tells us that Google has already led to $30 million in wind and solar investments.

Google’s two new bets, Alta Rock Energy and Potter Drilling, are working to figure out a way to tap the earth’s heat even in areas where geothermal fields don’t naturally exist. Google also announced a $490,000 grant to the Southern Methodist University Geothermal Lab for research targeted at understanding the distribution of geothermal resources and the improved geothermal mapping of North America.

Geothermal experts, is this a viable plan? (Photo: WorldIslandInfo on Creative Commons on flickr.)

Well dang, looks like Oregon, our poky ol’ neighbor to the north, has pulled off a coup that leaves California, so-called clean energy leader with our Million Solar Roofs plan and tons of other legislation promoting low carbon and sustainability, in the dust. (Check the YouTube video of the groundbreaking ceremony, above.) The Oregon Department of Transportation is rolling out the nation’s first solar-panel project on a major U.S. highway on Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 in Oregon, Associated Press reported.

It’s predicted that by the end of this year, a row of solar panels about 5 feet wide and two football fields long will begin generating enough electricity to the state’s electricity distribution system to provide 28 percent of the energy needed to power lights at the interchange at night.

So why don’t we have one?

Finally a presidential candidate to bring us all together - Paris Hilton. While the entire world is doing somersaults over the fact that Hilton responded to presidential hopeful John McCain’s attack ads suggesting Barack Obama is as shallow as she is, nobody seems to be addressing Hilton’s tongue-in-cheek energy policy. She suggests expanding offshore drilling (McCain’s suggestion) until government incentives for auto manufacturers to make hybrids (Obama’s idea) kick in.

The problem is, any benefits from expanding offshore drilling wouldn’t kick in until 2018, according to the U.S. Government’s Energy Information Administration. So it’s more likely that government subsidies could carry the day until then, though it’s not like such subsidies would take effect immediately. One instantaneous solution: If we all slowed down to 55, which requires no Congressional or presidential action. It’s a thought!

Our pals at Wired.com (well, Chuck Squatriglia, to be exact) alerted us to this amazing creation, the Airflow by Pierre Sabas of France, made entirely of glass. Whether this gorgeous vehicle actually is gonna save a whole lot o’ gas is even now being debated in the comments section to this post over at Wired.

 (Photo: Royal College of Art.)

Police arrested Justin Rodebush, 20, but wouldn’t provide any more information Monday about the suspect or possible motives. He is accused of somehow getting through the locked gates at the airport and refueling his car at the self-serve pumps. Stupidity, desperation or controlled substances? Well, police arrested him on suspicion of DUI in addition to the charge of attempted theft. Jeezus, can’t people just settle for driving 55?

(Photo of man fueling up jet by Flickr user Tim Pritlove under Creative Commons license)

Though it’s geographically the biggest city in Contra Costa County, Richmond gets little respect. The “City of Pride and Purpose” is, alas, perhaps best known for violence and drugs; jobs have been scarce since the city flourished during World War II as a shipbuilding center.

But all that may be changing as Richmond makes progress toward its aim of establishing itself as a green city. This morning, if all goes well, the EcoVillage Solar Installation will be dedicated, another milestone in the journey.

This month, 18 young Richmond residents are being taught the basics of solar electricity and how to install solar panels. Supervised by Bay Area solar firm Sun Light & Power, the students helped install solar panels at the eco-village at 21 Laurel Lane. Learning job skills in this hot field can be a ticket out of the cycle of joblessness and violence.

The eco-village comprises 5.6 acres of uniquely preserved, semi-rural farmland with fruit trees and a wide variety of other vegetation. Let’s hope jobs, a new image and (gasp!) eventually higher property values bloom along with the fruit trees.

Photo of EcoVillage Farm taken from site.

$18 gets you admission, the right to attack a truly impressive offering of appetizers, and an absorbing presentation by:

For more information, visit the Commonwealth Club’s Web site. And hey - the club is close to BART and bus lines, so consider limiting that carbon footprint with an earth-friendly commute!

Picture of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant by Flickr user emdot under Creative Commons license.

(As many of us also know, crude oil accounts for some 70 percent of the cost of gas.) But it’s looking like the crude oil investment bubble is deflating.

Crude-oil futures dropped more than two percent to below $123 a barrel this morning, extending crude’s weekly losses to nearly 5%, as economic worries continued and as the dollar gained ground, MarketWatch reported this morning.

“The exhibited selling pressure was a statement of acknowledgement of the adverse effect that high oil prices and credit market woes are having on the global economy,” said John Kilduff, an analyst at futures brokerage MF Global. Well, it’s about time, eh?

Photo of light at the end of the tunnel by Flickr user Jsome1 under Creative Commons license