http://climateprogress.org/2008/08/21/clean-energy-news-roundup/ The Latest on Climate Science, Solutions, and Politics Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:31:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 http://climateprogress.org/2008/08/21/clean-energy-news-roundup/#comment-17835 John Ferrell Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:03:09 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/08/21/clean-energy-news-roundup/#comment-17835 The Scientific American article about a plastic backing for photovoltaic cells made from cotton and castor beans points out that cotton production in the U.S. uses large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers derived from petroleum. (Actually I suspect the fertilizer is from natural gas.) As we envision and plan a sustainable future, we need to recognize that plant-based products are only truly green if the raw materials are grown sustainably---and that means (among other things) with the fewest possible fossil fuel inputs. The Scientific American article about a plastic backing for photovoltaic cells made from cotton and castor beans points out that cotton production in the U.S. uses large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers derived from petroleum. (Actually I suspect the fertilizer is from natural gas.) As we envision and plan a sustainable future, we need to recognize that plant-based products are only truly green if the raw materials are grown sustainably—and that means (among other things) with the fewest possible fossil fuel inputs.

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