SparkNotes for Cleantech

In his opinion column in the New York Times this past Sunday, noted author Thomas Friedman describe an exchange he had with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina regarding the opportunities we are presented with in the United States in the emerging low carbon economy. The Senator has taken a position of framing our collective "energy challenge as a need to “clean up carbon pollution,” to “become energy independent” and to “create more good jobs and new industries”. It was to this end of supporting the creation of new industries that I gave a presentation earlier this week at the offices of DBM, a leading global outplacement, coaching, and career management firm, to a group of Silicon Valley executives who are searching for their next big professional opportunity.

At the session facilitated by Nov Omana, CEO of Collective HR Solutions, I met business leaders experienced in semiconductor technology, IT services, and global logistics who possess the skills and experience needed to drive the creation and growth of clean energy industries. To help speed their research and career planning, I shared some of my favorite 'cheat sheet' views of the world of sustainability including: a taxonomy of cleantech published by Greentech Media, the huge role that IT services could play in carbon emission reductions as outlined in the Smart 2020 report, and the latest trends in 'green' VC investing as described in the State of Green Business 2010 report.

So dear reader, what sources have you found useful to speed your cleantech journey?