Green Daily

It looks like one of the few beneficiaries of the current financial crisis may be the alternative energy industry.

As giant banks around the world are looking for bailouts and handouts, a few small "ethical banks" like Triodos, are actually seeing their businesses grow. This is great news for the green, social and cultural projects they invest in, like wind turbines and medical centers.

Even though these smaller banks usually offer lower interest rates, customers are flocking to them because of the transparent way they do their business. Some, like Britain's Co-operative Bank, actually have a public stance on climate change and human rights. And they post it on their website!

Customers are happy to reward this candor with their savings and investments. Both Triodos and the Co-operative Bank are looking at record highs in the middle of a global recession.

Imagine how powerful it will be when one of the big banks, like Wells Fargo or Bank of America, finally catches on and makes a big -- BIG -- investment in things like green energy, alternative transportation, and sustainable farming?

They could solve the climate crisis, the financial crisis and all kinds of human suffering in the blink of an eye! Well, maybe not that fast, but it would certainly help. In the meantime, I'm sure the smaller banks will be happy to take all the customers they can get.