By: Kethaki Nair
The emphasis on profit has discouraged many corporations from investing in sustainable technologies. As gas prices continue to plummet the incentive to invest in green projects across the board has decreased. For example, T. Boone Pickens, the Oklahoma oil tycoon has delayed his giant wind farm project in West Texas. It is now harder for wind energy to compete with cheap fossil fuels. Unfortunately stopping such projects mid-way can set them back many years.
Green projects may now have to rely on government incentives and regulations to keep them going. The United States has a history of inadequate policy support for fuel-efficiency. Among other regulation weak CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) standards have played a big role in creating the current crisis, but change may be on the horizon. One step towards this direction is the $25 billion in government subsidized loans being given to auto-makers to develop fuel-efficient cars. It is still too early to say how successful this measure will be, but it is reassuring to see large and small auto-markers addressing fuel-efficiency. Government policy and businesses decisions both play a part in determining research priorities, and it is about time fuel-efficiency became a priority!
Finally, as Anne talks about in "Green Thanksgiving Travel," we can all make small decisions to reduce the impact of our travel on the environment. Changes in policy and business priorities may happen slowly, but you can change the way you choose to travel now!
Finally, as Anne talks about in "Green Thanksgiving Travel," we can all make small decisions to reduce the impact of our travel on the environment. Changes in policy and business priorities may happen slowly, but you can change the way you choose to travel now!
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