Energy-efficiency and fuel-switching, for example, accounted for 40% of the projects started last year, while biomass, wind- and hydro-power made up another 24%.

ECONOMIST: Climate change

Environmental groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth would like to see a switch to renewable and clean sources of energy such as solar, wind and hydro-electric power.

BBC: Impact of global warming may be severe and wide-ranging

The Tennessee Valley Authority said it is bringing online 1, 200 megawatts of nuclear power, purchasing 27 megawatts of wind power and updating hydro generating facilities.

FORBES: Spitzer Strikes Again

In the longer run, by 2020 or so, Taniguchi envisions that there will be sufficient hydro and wind power to supply 500, 000 mainland cars with hydrogen.

FORBES: Mister Natural

Other energy sources, such as hydro power solar, and wind power are extremely safe.

FORBES: The Economic Reasons Behind Nuclear Power

Energy has driven the world for over a thousand years Wind, Hydro and Solar are the oldest forms of energy giving power to all smart enough to use it.

FORBES: Dow Chemical buys NuvoSun for making solar shingles

While wind is gaining ground (and now supplies 1% of power), hydro's share (7%) is shrinking as dams are dismantled.

FORBES: Brownout

About 200 megawatts of Australia's power now comes from wind farms, so the new Alinta and Pacific Hydro projects will massively expand this output.

CNN: story.codringtonwindfarm.jpg

The pump storage hydro scheme is designed to "soak up" excess power generated by wind and wave farms, using it to pump water up to a reservoir.

BBC: Highland councillors support Lochaber hydro plan