While many watched Thursday’s VP debate with bated breath, it was a waste of energy. We didn’t learn anything new, apart from the fact that both vice presidential candidates share a belief in American exceptionalism, don’t like windfall profits for oil companies, support clean coal, and have tremendous respect for each other. Oh, and yes, Biden must not forget the correct Alaskan chant is, “Drill, baby, drill.” Hardly illuminating.

Amid the immediate concerns about addressing the credit crisis looms a larger question: how do we build up the American economy? This article explains why the bursting of the housing bubble differs from previous busts and how an energy technology revolution is urgently needed to ensure that America thrives.

The U.S. government will require automakers to produce 35 mpg cars by 2020.   But what if you don’t want to wait 12 years?  What if you want to buy a 35 mpg car today?  There is a solution.  You could always go buy your car in China.  China’s cars have been getting 35 mpg for over three years.

Electric cars are on the fast track to mainstream. This week, Chrysler announced a full fleet of electric cars for 2010. Some say “green” cars are a fad, but if anything the trend is in its infancy. Be prepared: Americans will buy more electric cars than gasoline cars by 2020. Why? One big reason: electricity is cheaper than gasoline.  A lot cheaper. This article explains the rest.

I spent the last two days in Malmö, Sweden at the European Social Forum (ESF) - a bi-annual event for lefties and social progressives to gather together. On Saturday, over 15,000 people gathered for a three-hour march throughout the city. The march followed a clearly defined course, which was well-documented in the conference guide. Going forward, however, the path to another world is far less clear.

It’s pretty clear that drill, baby, drill offers, at best, the relief of a chocolate bar to a mouth full of cavities. While there are many less rotten alternatives to drilling, deciding which alternative(s) to pursue requires a discussion about government’s role in energy policy. Such discussions have no place amid our current election fascination with flag pins, lipstick, elitism, and who has best co-opted the word “change.” So, allow us to offer our top five list.

You can put lipstick on an empty milkshake, but it’s still an empty milkshake.

During her recent homecoming speech in Alaska, Gov. Palin rallied the crowd into an oily frenzy, cheering: “drill, baby, drill”. Sen. McCain, Pres. Bush, and a host of others (Democrats too) have been arguing for increased oil drilling in coastal waters. The hope is that more oil will provide relief from high gasoline prices and dependence on hostile nations like Iran. Right? Hogwash. This article gives five reasons why we should NOT drill, baby, drill.

The pain of escalating fuel prices is undeniable. Sadly, Americans are avoiding real solutions and warming to gimmicky plots, such as drilling off our coastlines for more oil (see BusinessWeek).  In an odd turn to the energy debate, a prayer group in Washington DC is claiming credit for the recent sharp drop in the US price of petrol.

Denmark freed itself from oil dependence, and today enjoys a clean-energy economy and strong economic growth, a lesson American can learn from. Learn how here.

McCain promises a clean energy economy in his campaign speeches. Does he mean it? This article reviews McCain’s record on clean energy.

In the latest case of pre-election pandering, both McCain and Obama have made the miraculous campaign promise of lowering gasoline prices while also cutting US carbon dioxide emissions. Although the strategy might earn them votes come November, it’s time for Americans to realize that we can’t have cheap oil and cut emissions too.

Climate change is real and getting worse. Sunday, the Guardian reported that scientists predict ice-free summers in the North Pole by 2013. America is a leading offender, emitting ~20% of the world’s carbon dioxide every year. Here we answer seven questions that shed light on America’s dirty energy habit.

Solar energy is cheap, renewable, clean, and technologically feasible — and we can harvest it in space. Read more here