According to the congressional report, China plans to more than double its renewable energy resource by 2020, is rapidly expanding nuclear power, which despite fears in the wake of the Japanese situation, is the cleanest method of producing power.

FORBES: Green Sprouts in the Far East

Regulators in New York State are considering a proposal that would recognize gravity as a renewable-energy resource.

FORBES: Gravity May Soon Qualify As Renewable-Energy Resource in New York

How America manages that resource could kill renewable energy or catalyze it.

FORBES: Memo to Renewable Energy Industry: Natural Gas Is Good, Bad and Ugly

Several lawmakers seemed convinced, describing natural gas as "a precious resource, " a bridge to a renewable energy future--and a replacement for coal.

FORBES

The challenge requires highly efficient devices, and a high level of resource and robust technical capability that is comparable to conventional renewable energy power stations.

BBC: Renewables firms to compete for ?10m Saltire Prize

Corn is indeed a renewable resource, but it has a far lower yield relative to the energy used to produce it than either biodiesel (such as soybean oil) or ethanol from other plants.

FORBES: Feds Could Lessen Drought Impacts But Don't Bet The Farm On It

However, enthusiasts of the Desertec concept say there is around 8, 000 times more energy than we need to be harnessed from the Sun, an unlimited renewable resource.

BBC: RELATED BBC SITES

Some big resource companies and banks, which stand to do well from new markets in emissions permits and renewable energy, have supported the plan.

ECONOMIST: The prime minister stakes her future on a divisive scheme

"When you get down around a house, or in and amongst a lot of trees, or around buildings, the wind resource is seriously compromised, " said Mick Sagrillo, founder of Sagrillo Power and Light, a renewable energy consultancy firm.

CNN: Stimulus may get small wind turbines spinning