Go Green! Go Electric!

Ben: You're right, we certainly need to produce electricity in clean ways. I'm a big fan of the "Pickens Plan" here in the US because it emphasizes a transition away from foreign oil sources to domestically produced natural gas. as well as further investment and development of clean/non-petroleum-based energy sources including wind, solar, etc.

The issue of manufacturing pollutants is also important. Electric cars are big step in the right direction, I'd maintain.

Pickens has quite a few good ideas in his plan. The main problem I see is the extensive use of natural gas, which will lead to increased home heating, industrial, and electric costs. NG prices have already doubled since ~2000, when power companies increased their usage.

I like electric cars. I feel that they are the future of urban transportation, especially in dirty cities. Coupling this with renewable energy sources would be ideal. Check out Better Place, they have some neat ideas.

Electric cars are all well and good, but where is the electricity coming from? It needs to be from a source like wind, solar, hydro, or nuclear to be truly "zero pollution." if its coal, gas, or oil, you're merely moving the pollution to someone else's backyard. Also, I'd be curious to see how a 3000 lb vehicle can be manufactured while releasing zero pollutants.