As I flip the pages of the New York times in days past I have encountered the following articles:
Article #1
Not So Green After All (Oil Giants Loath to Follow Obama’s Green Lead)
The Obama administration wants to reduce oil consumption, increase renewable energy supplies and cut carbon dioxide emissions in the most ambitious transformation of energy policy in a generation.
But the world’s oil giants are not convinced that it will work. Even as Washington goes into a frenzy over energy, many of the oil companies are staying on the sidelines, balking at investing in new technologies favored by the president, or even straying from commitments they had already made.
Comment
The UGLY NEWS: is that greentech is finding it's toughest obstacles. Traditional businesses are protecting their ground and many big players are reducing their exposure to new technologies. It is only logical that many companies, having to reduce costs and to concentrate on their existing operations lose sight of potential opportunities in the future.
Article #2
Cost Works Against Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources in Time of Recession
Windmills and solar panel arrays have become symbols of America’s growing interest in alternative energy. Yet as Congress begins debating new rules to restrict carbon dioxide emissions and promote electricity produced from renewable sources, an underlying question is how much more Americans will be willing to pay to harness the wind and the sun.
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The BAD NEWS: is that Greentech will have to become more cost competitive in the near future. Declining world consumption and energy prices will act as a much stronger filter of Greentech products and services. Only the very competitive and the ones that have the soundest commercialization plans will be able to survive in this economy.
Article #3
A Tiny Camcorder Has a Big Payday
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Pure Digital Technologies thought small and simple, and it paid off big time.
The tiny, eight-year-old start-up famed for its inexpensive and easy to use Flip video cameras has defeated a down economy. On Thursday, the 100-person company was bought by Cisco Systems, a technology infrastructure giant, for $590 million in stock. The deal caps off a bumpy and unpredictable rise for Pure Digital, which bested the Asian companies that dominate the camera industry from an office located above the Gump’s department store in the heart of San Francisco.
“At a time when everybody has just been hammered with stories of misery, this is a really fabulous tale of what is possible against all odds,” said Michael Moritz, a venture capitalist at Sequoia Capital, which invested in Pure Digital.
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The GOOD NEWS: There are still winners out there! If Pure Digital can make it big so can others in the Greentech sector. The path towards greentech implementation has become steeper, but the finish line is still achievable.
Article #4
At U.N. Talks on Climate, Plans by U.S. Raise Qualms
BONN, Germany — At the start of the United Nations climate talks here 12 days ago, the Obama administration’s chief climate negotiator, Todd Stern, received a round of rowdy applause. It was the first appearance of the new negotiating team at any global meeting.
But by Wednesday, as the meetings drew to a close, some delegates — and even some United Nations officials — were grumbling that the United States was not moving fast enough to take action on global warming.
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More GOOD NEWS: Unlike the experience of the 80's when price of Oil went back down (after a tremendous increase) and all greentech initiatives were thrown out the window, this time around there is a strong commitment towards climate change and clean technologies. The conversation has turned from "are we doing something?" into "are we doing enough?"
Until next time: SHALOM! (for those of you who celebrate: Happy Passover)
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