We’re having a series of power outages at my house this evening, so I’m posting from my cell phone. This of course leads me to all sorts of thoughts about the large roll of electronics in my life, etc. For all of the environmental concerns that cell phones bring with them, every instance in which I’ve used one to call 911 has made them completely worthwhile in my mind. The worth of making this post with one might be more debatable…

Al Gore’s essay in Newsweek on the Electranet:

From the Dec. 18th Newsweek

My Turn: [The Energy Electranet]

The climate crisis will force a historic shift to a new global power network of small alternative sources. This network will then feed a smart electric grid. Welcome to the future.

By Al Gore
Newsweek

Dec. 18, 2006 issue - Over the past 200 years, the industrial revolution has created vast wealth and huge improvements in the human condition—in a few dozen highly industrialized countries. The engine of that revolution was fueled by coal and then supercharged with oil—multiplying the productivity of human labor many, many times over. Although we have reaped many benefits from this intensive use of energy, we are now faced with an urgent crisis—a crisis that is altering the very nature of the Earth’s climate.

Read the whole essay [here]