Alternative Energy Sources

Fossel fuels are a limited resource and are a major source of pollutants, including greenhouse gasses. And yet, they are still our primary source of energy today. However, alternative sources of energy, such as solar energy for homes (article) and bio-based fuel for cars, are being developed.

Current solutions and innovations:

Cars and other personal transportation:

[Video] Home Grown: NOW talks with Willie Neslon about this new trend in biofuels that is attracting the attention of farmers, environmentalists, and even some of the big energy giants as well.
[Articles] Some have taken the problem of alternative fuel into their own hands:

The BugE Personal Electric Transport (P.E.T.)
GM EV1, Toyota RAV4EV, Ford Ranger EV

Homes:

[Video] Solar Decathalon Produces Self-Powering Homes: The U.S Department of Energy's solar decathalon last week brought teams from 20 universities to the national mall in order to build modules of solar-powered homes.
[Article] Competition Puts Energy-Efficient, Solar-Powered Homes on Display: the U.S Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon brought teams from 20 universities to the National Mall to showcase their designs for a modern, solar-powered home.
[Article]This Solar House: zero-energy retrofit that turned a regular home into a solar-powered, energy-efficient home.

Projected solutions:

Cars and other personal transportation:

[Article] Questions Loom over Increased Ethanol Use: Ethanol still faces critics who question its feasibility as a replacement for oil and its impact on the environment
[Image]

Diagram of a fuel cell car
[Video] Fuel Cells: hydrogen fuel cell cars promise pollution-free driving, but will we see them anytime soon?
[Audio] Fill 'er Up, with Grassoline: exploring the possibilities of switchgrass as a source of ethanol.

Mass transportation:

[Audio] Alternative Fuels for Jet Aircraft: a look at ethanol as a possible alternative fuel for jet aircraft.

Retrospective:

Cars and other personal transportation:

[Audio] Alternative Power was Cars First Fuel: The desire to build vehicles that run on alternative power dates back to long before cars even existed.