Sen. Lamar Alexander announce his "Manhattan Project" energy plan at Oak Ridge National Laboratory today. My commentary at TennViews.

UPDATE: Mike Padgett responds with "Energy 2.0"

Congress should pass a "consumer protection disclosure and warning label" law that requires the following:

1. The EPA fuel economy must be prominently displayed on all print and television vehicle advertising in a clearly legible type face that is at least the same size as the name of the vehicle or manufacturer, whichever is larger. For radio ads, the EPA fuel economy must be mentioned at the beginning and end of the spot. (Have you ever noticed how most car ads don't mention it at all?)

2. The EPA fuel economy must be permanently etched onto the bumper of all vehicles sold in the U.S. using a clearly legible type face that is at least the same size as the name of the manufacturer's make and model badge.

Then let peer pressure work its magic.

How the hell does a coal company lose money?

Interest in alternative energy such as wind, geothermal, and solar is spreading beyond so-called "fringe" environmentalists and "tree huggers" to the business world.

If there is any doubt, consider this: U.S. clean energy venture capital investments totaled $2.7 billion in 2007, a 70% increase over 2006. Worldwide investments in clean energy totaled $148 billion, a 60% increase over 2006. Alternative energy is going mainstream.