The Wall Street Journal Identifies Five Energy-Related Technologies "That Could Change Everything"

The Oct. 19, 2009, issue of The Wall Street Journal included a special report titled, "Five Technologies That Could Change Everything." Editor Lawrence Rout described these as "five areas where scientists and engineers are looking for breakthroughs that may--just possibly--help get us out of the [energy] bind we're in."

According to the Journal, the five technologies are:

• Space-based solar energy
• Advanced car batteries
• Renewable-energy storage
• Carbon capture and storage
• Next-generation biofuels

Each technology is described and a short assessment provided.

The special report also included an interesting story about windpower. Of particular interest to me was the fact that the state of Iowa has the second highest amount of installed wind capacity in the U.S. Future expansion in Iowa, however, will require more transmission capacity. The state of Colorado ranks 8th in the nation in installed capacity. Texas ranks first in installed capacity.