Here Comes the Sun King

Could Solar Power Ever Become California’s Leading Energy Source?

The sun has been shining brightly on solar power, but can it last? California has seen a lot of booms and busts, and solar power has been among them. Solar power boomed in the late 1970s and busted in the decades that followed. Today, it’s looking bright again, and solar panels blanket the state. But how far can we take it, and how much can the sun really do for us? In advance of the Zócalo event “Is California’s Solar Gold Rush Destined to Fail?“, we asked several solar supporters …

February 2, 2012

Solar: Not Just For Tinfoil-Hatters Anymore

But Most Of Our Debates About It Miss the Point

by Lisa Margonelli | February 1, 2012

Since 2007, California has experienced a solar boom. Photovoltaic panels rest on 107,159 rooftops, as of this writing (the numbers are updated here every Wednesday). Driven by incentives that are …

You Wanna Make Phoenix Green?

It’s More Plausible Than You’d Think

October 25, 2011

“If Phoenix can become sustainable, then it can be done anywhere,” declared writer and cultural analyst Andrew Ross. This was the inspiration behind his new book, Bird on Fire: Lessons …

Just Add Water, Oil, Food, and Maybe a Solar Panel

Can Cities Like Phoenix Ever Be Made Sustainable?

October 23, 2011

Phoenix has over a million inhabitants, and its metropolitan area has over four million inhabitants. That’s a lot of water, a lot of driving, and a lot of air conditioning. …

We’ll Find Some New Way to Power Our Hot Dog Toasters

But the Quest For Energy Is a Long Hard Slog-Through Smog

October 12, 2011

“What a great location for this evening’s discussion!” exclaimed Daniel Yergin as he opened his talk at the Petersen Automotive Museum. The setting was a room full of cars from …

Let’s Fire Up This Debate (Without Coal)

Is Energy Security—Whatever That Is-Even Possible?

October 10, 2011

For all the progress in energy technologies, the world still relies heavily on old-school energy sources like coal and oil. Can the nonstop skirmishing over energy supplies ever cease? In …

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