Renewable Energy

A couple of bright spots in the movement towards renewable energy sources.

Although wind turbines wind farms have been around, I thought it was a great step recently when I read that John Deere, who has helped farmers for 150 years to work the land is now offering investment stakes to farmers for wind turbines. Farmers earn cash by leasing the wind rights to their land, or investing and selling power to utilities. Seems like a good fit - farmers have trusted them with tractors and other machinery - why not wind turbines. Plus - what a great way to boost financing revenue.

Stirling Energy Systems has come up with a revolutionary solar collection system that is twice as efficient as photovoltaic cells that uses an old idea of a sterling engine. Their solar setup will be able to generate electricity on a similar scale to coal, gas, or nuclear with no emissions by using solar dishes nearly 1000 sq feet. Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric have also signed up to buy solar power from Stirling. Recently Bruce Osborn, their CEO was named 1 of the 50 people that will most likely change how we live and work over the next ten years in Fast Company.