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The other night I watched a segment on Discovery’s Daily Planet showing off a race car made with a lot of recycled or renewable materials. The seat of the WorldFirst Formula 3 car is made with soy foam, the body is made with recycled carbon fibre, the steering wheel is made from carrot compounds, and it can run on many flavours of biodiesel. The car’s builders want to push the green envelope, so to speak, to try to match the speeds achievable in a regular Formula 1 car in a more sustainable car.

What do you think, is there a hope that one-off examples can bring change to an industry? Is this akin to NASA developing futuristic technology (the computer mouse, cochlear implants, Tang) that we adopt for life on earth?

I’m trying to read through new legislation passed in Ontario, the Green Energy Act. I’ve heard a few positive things about it so far. Based on some news from agricultural sector representatives, the act should allow farmers to be part of green energy solutions, including turning agricultural products into biofuels. According to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), “New biomass [unused crop leftovers such as corn stalks, straw or pods] regulations will provide a base to start an industry for the future using crop scraps along with purpose-grown crops [plants grown for the purpose of energy production] from Ontario farms. Biomass and energy crops create revenue opportunities for farmers.”

Apparently the Act also restricts noise levels on wind turbines and prevents those interested in building solar farms from doing so on top-quality farm land. On the surface, these restrictions make sense, but I’m nervous that traditional energy companies may have lobbied for controls on renewable energy. After all, isn’t residential development of high-quality farmland a bigger concern? Once that good soil is carted away to make room for homes and streets, it’s gone for good.

Clearly I have more reading to do.

What do you think a green energy act should do?