Articles by Adam Browning

Take bets on the long future

Much of environmentalism is about long-term thinking. If you are looking for a meta-narrative, I'd say most people who define themselves as environmentalists are motivated by the desire to see something they love -- clean air, beautiful places, whales, or whathaveyou -- stick around a bit longer.

That's why I think the Long Now Foundation, dedicated to the promotion of long-term thinking, is one of the coolest organizations around.

How Sunpower plans to do it

Sunpower, a darling of the investor community, has the highest efficiency solar cells on the market. If you are interested in how they think they can reduce costs by 50% by 2012 and thereby reach grid parity -- that is to say, the point where solar is cost effective without subsidies -- listen here.

Rain, mixed with tears

For those under the impression that the events of the past few days represent an exciting opportunity for new course for our country, even reason to hope again -- well, meet Rep. John Dingell, the new head of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In an interview on Wednesday, he gave a preview of what we might expect:

It’s not too complicated

The autopsy report for the 109th Congress is not complex. In my view, three things brought them down:

1. Stupid ideas
2. executed incompetently
3. often by criminals.

Fix those three little things ...