Economic woes remedied by green technology

Representatives from leading US renewable technology companies and small businesses appeared before the House Small Business Committee to discuss the role of green technologies in spurring economic growth, particularly for small firms that are developing and using green, renewable practices, says Talk Radio News.

Gregory Wetstone, senior director of government and public affairs for the American Wind Energy Association, stated that nearly 35% of the nation's new electrical capacity in 2007 came from wind energy, and the numbers are growing. Wetstone also said that America provides one of the best opportunities to harness wind energy.

In addition, he said that turbine production plants help the economy by relying on nearly 400 sub-suppliers, many of which are small businesses.

IDC's green IT research team says that green IT is a growing global phenomenon, with customers now seeking out IT vendors whose offerings are more energy-efficient, more material-efficient, less hazardous, designed for greater recyclability, and supported by end-of-life recycling programs, reports Computerworld.

Another research group, Forrester, recently completed its third survey of enterprise IT professionals to understand the state of green IT awareness and adoption in corporate computing. The survey showed continuing advancement of both awareness and activity, but the adoption of green IT varied significantly by geography and industry.

Vendor strategists positioning their products and their firms to capture enterprises' growing green mindshares must tune their messaging to match these important variables.

Attracted by the business potential of the growing interest in green technology, Howard County in Maryland, in the US, is starting a coalition of business leaders involved in the field to capitalise on the trend, says Baltimore Sun.

Dubbed the Green Business Council, the nine-member group represents a collaboration of Ken Ulman, Howard County executive, the county's Economic Development Authority, and the county's Office of Environmental Sustainability, according to an announcement by Ulman.

"We know that green-collar jobs are growing nationwide, and one US study predicts that the 8.5 million current jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency industries could grow to as many as 40 million by 2030," Ulman said. "We want to make sure Howard County is in the forefront of that effort and a location where businesses in emerging green technologies can thrive."