On Wednesday, President Obama dedicated a significant section of his State of the Union address to a pitch for clean energy, encouraging the Senate to pass a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill.

Today he backed up his words with a pledge to reduce the federal government's greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2020. The move will save the country $8 to 11 billion dollars. That's the way to lead by example!

It's a strong political gesture, for two reasons:

You know those movies where scientists tunnel to the center of the Earth, and they have to use magic technology to survive the heat coming from the molten lava core?

That's not real. But there is some pretty amazing -- yet simple -- technology that allows us to use the naturally consistent temperature of Earth just below the frost line to heat and cool homes. It's also very eco-friendly: you don't burn anything, nothing is emitted, and you don't produce any waste.

Geothermal power is one of the greenest ways to keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Even better? It's also one of the most cost-effective sources of energy!

It's practically a post-holiday tradition: averting your eco-eyes as you drive past piles of non-recyclable, non-compostable, non-reusable trash crowding the curb, waiting for a ride to the Landfill of Non-biodegradeable Limbo.

Don't look away! Things can be different. We can use that trash for good!

Waste to energy plants take solid trash like non-recyclable plastic, and incinerate it, capturing the energy produced by the burn and sending it into the grid to heat homes and supply electric power.

This New Year's Eve, the world famous dropping ball (I'll do my best not to make puberty jokes) in Times Square will be powered by people who can't afford a gym membership ... as well as a few celebrities who stopped by for a photo-op.

That's because, according to our friends at Holidash, Duracell has set up a fleet of six fancy stationary bikes (dubbed "power rovers") that feed their pedal-powered electricity directly into the giant copper-tops that will illuminate up the iconic 2010 numerals at the stroke of midnight.

Anyone who wants to donate a few extra calories is welcome to drop by the Smart Power Lab, located at 1540 Broadway from now until 3PM on New Year's Eve. Think of it as a free spin class.

Over the last few years, wind and solar proponents have been battling it out to take the top spot in the clean energy discussion. However, when it comes down making a purchase on a smaller scale, solar is king. Solar panels are smaller, more discreet and, most importantly, they're a proven commodity.

Still, that doesn't mean they're always the best option. According to Earth2Tech, the "small" wind turbine market is expected to double by 2013. By the way, I put "small" in quotes because were talking small in terms of output (100KW or less), not size. Look at the 100KW turbine in the picture and you'll see what I'm talking about.

A small wind system might not be as suitable as solar panels for your condo, but it might be better for you condo complex. Likewise, small wind's not ideal for your house in the burbs, but it might out-compete solar at your warehouse, or your farm, or whatever. Says David Link from Pike Research: "Small wind energy is less expensive than solar on a cost per watt basis which is driving more and more businesses and rural consumers to give it a second look."

Alpha Green Al Gore has invited those of us who want clean energy technology (yes, personally -- get on the mailing list and he'll write to you, too) to participate in a new communication channel called The Wall.

It's a pretty amazing display of the passion behind the grassroots RePower America campaign. People post a comment, photo or even a video to The Wall, explaining why they believe clean energy is the way to save the environment and the economy. And the whole world can see and hear the public consensuse -- this is what we want, and we want it now!

One great thing about this collection of voices is that it uses the internet to amplify the message of people who have deep convictions, but perhaps prefer not to participate in a naked formation of the number 350 on the side of a mountain. Sure, those in-person, occasionally naked, demonstrations are fun and meaningful, but way too cold for some of us!

University of Kentucky Uses Innovative Recycled Plastic Decking at the Solar Decathlon from Plastics Make it Possible on Vimeo.

Last month students from around the world gathered on the National Mall in Washington D.C. to compete in the Solar Decathlon, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Twenty teams designed, built and operated solar-powered homes, which were then opened to the public, both to get votes, and to educate people about the latest uses of energy-efficient building practices and materials.

The first, and hardest, part of the competition actually happens before they get to D.C., when the teams design their structures, raise money to build them, and supervise contractors to actually raise them. Then they take them apart -- very carefully! -- and transport them to the National Mall, where they are reassembled on site. The final phase includes the judging, where they are evaluated on 10 different areas:

Back in the 70s, I remember nuclear energy being discussed in the same breath as geothermal and solar power. But then the partial core meltdown happened at Three Mile Island in 1979, giving the American public a huge scare about the safety of nuclear reactors.

It didn't help matters when the film "Silkwood", starring Meryl Streep, came out in 1983, showing how workers who were exposed to plutonium had to be literally scrubbed raw -- those decontamination showers are burned into the brains of a generation!

But the climate crisis has created the urgent need for a power source that doesn't produce CO2. There are already several nuclear power-plants online in the U.S. In 31 states there are 104 reactors, which provide about 20% of our energy -- and 70% of our emission-free energy.

If you're into cars that run on alternative fuels, then this is your lucky week. The Global Green Challenge is a 3,000 kilometer race through the center of Australia that starts in Darwin in the north, finishes in Adelaide in the south, and takes the participants through desert, rainforest and coastal plains.

The race, which began as the World Solar Challenge in 1987, is held every two years. Teams come from around the world to race their kooky looking solar-powered cars that resemble space ships. Most of the teams are made up of engineering students, and the competition is quite earnest.

This year, in addition to the solar concept car competition, there will be a second race called The Eco Challenge, which will include alternative fuel cars that are actually in production around the world.

Photo by Alex Wong, Getty Images

Will the inclusion of nuclear energy in the climate bill score it enough votes to actually pass?

In the debate over the current "cap and trade" legislation (or 'Cap'n Trade' as Jon Stewart calls it) that's currently getting kicked around in the Senate chambers, one particular compromise just keeps rearing its controversial little head: Nuclear Energy.

In fact, reports are coming in that Republicans like Lindsay Graham are angling to add language to the climate bill that puts nuclear energy on par with wind or solar power. So, the question now becomes: Are lobbyists, lawmakers and their constituents really ready to play "Let's Make a Deal?"

Up until this point in the debate, it's been easy to avoid that critical nuclear gut check. Now, environmentally aware readers, is the time to decide whether Cap and Trade legislation is worth the compromises it might require to pass.

(Photo by Geoff Burke, Getty Images)

There's a new eco-friendly beer on tap in The Great Lakes State, and the brewmeister is none other than terminally shirtless rap/rock/country crooner Kid Rock. Apparently, Mr. Rock has been carefully perfecting this beer's flavor for the past year and now it's ready for mass consumption. Here's how Kid Rock describes the beer to the Detroit Free Press:

""American-style lager ... easy to drink without an aftertaste... I'm American, that's what I like to drink, and from looking around the parking lot before my shows, I know that's what my fans drink,"

Thoughtfully dubbed "American Badass Beer," the brew was unveiled at two of Kid Rock's concerts in Detroit last week and is now available statewide in Michigan. American Badass Beer (I'm already getting really annoyed with that title) will be available nationwide over the next year.

If you were getting excited about the prospect that Kid Rock might hang up the microphone and work full time at the brewery, sorry, no such luck. The Michigan Brewing Company is undertaking the production duties, which is also the reason it qualifies as a green beer. The Michigan Brewing Company, like a few other major green breweries, produces its own power from biodiesel generators.

In fact, nearby MSU students are unwittingly aiding Kid Rock's efforts to market his poorly-named green brew. Fryer grease from their cafeterias is powering the aforementioned generators. If the food at Michigan State's cafeterias is anything like the ones at my school, there should be grease aplenty. There was probably enough grease pumping out of our cafeterias to power the entire campus.

I'd warn other green brewers like New Belgium and Sierra Nevada to watch out, but I don't think American Badass Beer is really targeting their demographic. Something about the name and the beer's celebrity spokesman leads me to think that ABB will not be a favorite among the Prius-driving public.

If you've ever spent time in the Lone Star State, it quickly becomes obvious -- sometimes painfully so -- that Texas enjoys an abundance of burning, scorching sunshine. While not everyone views these rays as a resource yet, lobbyists, policymakers and politicians (the three most dreaded groups in the state) are working on an incentive package to make Texas a leader in solar energy.

Thus far, 69 renewable energy bills have been introduce in this Texas legislative session, and 50 of them focus on boosting the state's solar resources. Some representatives have even taken to calling this the "solar session." According to representative Mark Strama:

"There are senators and representatives that are talking about solar that have never mentioned the word probably in their lives. We've actually heard the term 'global warming,' and two years ago that was called 'the G word' - you didn't talk about it."

Considering the state's success with promoting wind energy, it's easy to imagine that much of the momentum will start to spill over into becoming the preeminent force solar energy as well. Austin Energy just gave the green light to the largest solar farm in the nation, so that's a start.

[via Earth2Tech]

Like any other piece of machinery, every so often, a wind turbine will fail and pieces will break off. The problem: the pieces are freakin big ... and that's freakin scary. Earlier this month, a wind turbine mysteriously collapsed in the northern New York community of Altona and the shock waves are still being felt.

A 13 turbine windfarm in neighboring Beekmantown fell prey to safety concerns this week, as it was killed by the city council by a vote of 3-2. Unsurprisingly, the March 17th town hall meeting to discuss the Beekmantown wind farm was dominated by talk about the collapse at Altona -- and council members were among those leading the charge. Says councilman Samuel Dyer: "Excuse my language, but that thing in Altona scared the s-- out of me."

Unfortunately, this is a pretty clear example of how costly mishaps like this one can be for an emerging energy technology. With the collapse in Altona, and the mysterious falling blade in England, there's got to be some concern that turbines could earn the stigma of being unsafe -- a tough thing to get over.

[via CleanTechnica]

Sure, homeowner's associations can be a good vehicle for enforcing neatness and keeping property values up -- in theory anyway. You won't find me paying a group of amateur lawn police a monthly fee to tell me what color solar panels I can put up on my own house. No thanks.

That's what happened to three homeowners in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, when the HOA's illustrious Art Jury (no joke) denied their plans to put up photovoltaic solar panels based on their appearance. The US-made panels cost 30% less than the dark black panels preferred by the HOA, but they have a dreadful blue tint. Oh no! How will they possible match the neighborhood's uniform appearance?

Fighting back against the HOA, residents went to City Hall, to see if any of its occupants had a lick of common sense. Surprisingly enough, they did. Citing California's 1978 Solar Rights Act, the City of Palos Verdes declared a city override of the Art Jury's ruling. Oddly enough, it was the same Solar Rights Act that allowed one neighbor to force another to chop down his 10 year old redwoods because they were blocking his rays.

[via Treehugger]

There are so many good things going on with small-scale wind turbines -- they're a beacon of good intentions, affordable, and now super easy to install -- it's a shame that in practice, micro wind's benefits are infamously dubious. Potential counter-productiveness aside, the Jellyfish Wind Appliance is bar none the coolest and weirdest-looking micro turbine to draw major league attention -- and that's saying something.