Below are a few letters received ar EnergyBiz Insider on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel.

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June 16, 2010

Electric vehicles are on course to make their debut this fall. But they got an unexpected boost in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has just sponsored legislation to advance the cause.

This country's voracious appetite for oil is adding to pollution rates as well as aiding countries unfriendly to its interest. By encouraging the use of electric cars, policymakers are attempting to address the issues of oil addiction and air emissions, although it is unclear just how successful they will be at either one.

June 14, 2010

Google is searching for answers. This time it is using its weight to find energy-related solutions and specifically in the renewable realm. To this end, it has invested nearly $39 million in two wind farms that will generate 170 megawatts of electricity in North Dakota that are owned by NextEra Energy, Inc.

Google is not just a do-gooder. It's a ravenous consumer of electricity and it must find a way to become more efficient and cleaner. By placing its bets on green energy, it is attempting to understand how it works and to help create economies of scale so that it can be cost-effectively generated. The mere fact that the money is coming from its for-profit arm and not its philanthropic division indicates that it is serious.

June 11, 2010

The BP oil disaster is spilling over and affecting other fossil-fired fuels as well as the prospects for climate change legislation.

While deeply saddened by the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, environmentalists are using the occasion to ensure that future energy projects get the scrutiny they deserve before such facilities are allowed to operate. And they will have a sympathetic ear both from federal and state regulators as well as the constituencies who are involved. Ironically, though, that strategy will likely cost them a favorable vote this year on climate change.

June 09, 2010

BP's nightmare is of its own making. But it didn't have to be that way. The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico underscores the dilemma of not actually backing up an advertising slogan with the appropriate actions.

While branding is about creating a corporate image, it's also about carrying through with the implicit and explicit promises that are made in that outreach program. It's about taking the message beyond the four walls of a company and into the marketplace which could, in turn, embrace the mission. If done right, it not only conveys a company's goals but it will also help improve the bottom line.