Lets take a short walk through the issue to give you some direction in selecting your bedtime reading.

THE WORLD NEEDS GIGAWATTS NOT MEGAWATTS is probably an understatement.  Peter Lynches article talks about the future market for photovoltaics in relation to the growing demand for energy worldwide. Needless to say the market is potentially huge but the technology needs to get a boost in order to meet the challenge. A good start can be made in the smallest of ways as you'll see in NOVEL RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS by Scott Sklar. Cool products are coming down the pike that will grab a bit more attention from the average Joe. This is critical to win the hearts and minds and as discussed by J.R. Sykes in SUSTAINABLE PATRIOTISM  we all need to take on the responsibility.

How about the big picture? Chuck Steiner has some interesting facts and figures as well as solutions in A WORLDWIDE WASTE-TO-ENERGY POLICY. You can't think much bigger than Chuck does.

Speaking of solutions ... that's what we want to focus on in this eMagazine and I think there are some great examples in this issue. DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLS, ULTRACAPACITORS, E85 ETHANOL and GEM NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES are all contributing to the overall transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources and solutions.

How about some practical discussions and problem solving articles? DO YOU NEED BATTERY BACK-UP? , BUILDING A SAFER LITHIUM-ION BATTERY and TRANSPORTATION FOR A CLEAN PLANET are all very informative and may answer some of the questions in your mind.

On the Green Building front ENERGY SECURITY CODE OF CONDUCT talks about worldwide progress in commercial building construction plans and implementations. Yes it costs cash to be responsible and we need some accountability here just like we do in every other industry struggling to accommodate change in habits and demand for excellence.

Again ... thinking about attacking big problems with small but effective solutions. According to E+ Co in PEOPLE PLANET PROFIT, the best solutions to satisfy energy needs for the poor come from within the community, working on the ground with dedicated entrepreneurs and local groups, who best understand the needs of their community.

You may think that I put too much hope in technology to get us through the next few decades ... but I just don't have a better solution. Politics is just not making it for me so I think it's time we let the engineers and business entrepreneurs rule the world. Nose to grindstone ... no time for war and idealism ... let's get the job done!

My heroes these days are Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Richard Branson who are leading by example. They used their skills to make a pile of money and are now spending it on humanity. The point here is ... first they did the hard work ... and now they are investing the rewards in something they feel is worthy. Imagine if the next Bill Gates is this minute working on a new solar panel design in his garage with a few friends. Let's hope so ... the Alternative Energy industry needs it's Microsoft.