The editorial buzz on newswires this month was full of commentary about two rulings issued by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, April 2, 2007. The Court handed environmentalists some hope, which some pundits called "the most important environmental decision in years." They could become historic decisions that affect your bottom line, because electric utility costs will likely go up.

April 13, 2007 -Three-dimensional solar panels developed by the Georgia Tech Research Institute could produce about 60% times more energy than traditional flat solar panels. The new design features an array of nanotowers, like microscopic blades of grass. The tower structures can trap and absorb light received from many different angles, and remain efficient even when the sun is not directly overhead.

Trends & Innovations
Investor's Business Daily
Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:00 PM ET

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is creating a $100 million program to support research intended to encourage policies aimed at reducing the threat of global warming. The foundation's climate change project, which is being announced today, comes amid an increasing political push for legislation to curb emissions of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and gasoline.

Dear Jim: I listened to Al Gore on television, and he mentioned new CFL light bulbs for homes. Can I use these in existing lamps, and how much electricity will they save? Is the light quality acceptable? -- Gayle H.

Dear Gayle: Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) have been available for many years. Over the past several years, their prices have dropped considerably and their light quality is much better. Today they are much more commonly used in existing lamps and in new designer lamps.

Carbon emission constraints are creating quite a stir in Washington. Convinced that the country must act, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are seeking direction from members of the European Union on how to establish an emissions trading scheme.

Australia has announced plans to ban incandescent light bulbs and replace them with more energy efficient fluorescent bulbs. The environment minister said the move could cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tonnes by 2012. "It's a little thing but it's a massive change," Malcolm Turnbull said. The decision will make Australia the first country to ban the light bulbs, although the idea has also been proposed in the US state of California.

The 2007 WWJ Newsradio 950 Winter Survival Radiothon benefiting THAW was a great success. We surpassed last year’s total, bringing in almost $400,000. After matches from utility partners, the total will be over $900,000 in energy assistance for needy Michigan families.

THAW 2007 Radiothon