seriously rethinking their transportation options. energy systems, and the rise and fall of gasoline prices.
At the same time, the American Public Transportation But venture capitalists are still flocking to clean technol-
Association reported a 4 percent increase in public trans- ogy ventures such as eSolar Inc., the nation’s first solar tower
portation ridership last year—bringing it to its highest level energy facility, in Pasadena, California, backed by the invest-
in 52 years. Bicycle sales are picking up, too. In the first ment firm Idealab. Ernst & Young reported that investments
quarter of 2009, U.S. bicycle sales surpassed car sales. in cleantech startups jumped 73 percent in the second
Rising interest in bicycle riding has led many cities quarter last year. Paul Deninger, vice president of the invest-
to open bike lanes. National efforts to create safe paths ment bank Jefferies & Company, notes that the most exciting
for bike riders include the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000- opportunities may actually occur in the process of managing
mile traffic-free trail system between Canada and Florida current energy use “by happenstance, being green, rather
that’s 21 percent complete. The San Francisco Bay Trail has than [in] managing the carbon footprint directly.”
developed 300 miles of shoreline trails for bikers, hikers Matthew Patsky, a partner of the green fund group
and other outdoor enthusiasts over the past 20 years, with Winslow Management, observes that in the future, fossil
an eventual goal of 500 miles. Today’s evolving bicycle fuel supplies will inevitably be supplanted by clean energy
designs include folding models for commuters and a range like solar, wind and geothermal. “Renewable energy, green
of trailers, carriers and attachments for those who want to building, mass transit, improving efficiency…” Patsky con-
start shopping by bike and bring the kids. cludes, “It’s got to win.”
Contact: U.S. Department of Energy, FuelEconomy.gov; Contact: Green Century Capital Management, Inc., Green-
East Coast Greenway, Greenway.org; The San Francisco Century.com; Pax World Funds, PaxWorld.com; Winslow
Bay Trail Project,
BayTrail.abag.ca.gov.
Management Company,
WinslowGreen.com.
Green Investing
Natural Awakenings readers across the country are among
Jack Uldrich, the author of Green Investing: A Guide
those already investing in a greener future—whether
to Making Money through Environment-Friendly Stocks,
switching to organic snacks and energy-efficient light
says that, despite the recession, “I still think cleantech is an
bulbs, supporting local green businesses or bicycling to
outstanding long-term investment trend.” Still, he cautions
work. Collectively, these incremental changes are begin-
that green stocks should only comprise 5 percent to 10 per-
ning to add up and the markets are responding.
cent of an investor’s portfolio. Why? He notes that renew-
able energy investments are particularly subject to outside
Brita Belli is the editor of E/The Environmental Magazine
forces, such as government investment, the availability
and the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Renewable
of strong credit available to fund solar panels and other
Energy for Your Home. Connect at
Brita@emagazine.com.
30 Phoenix
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