The current issue of Forbes, titled "Energy & Genius," offers an interesting glimpse at how a less progressive administration might be thinking about our energy future. Nowhere to be found are the now ubiquitous images of wind turbines and/or photovoltaic panels. The only mention of the burgeoning solar industry, in fact, is in a small piece entitled “A Brief History of Energy Boondoggles. " In their stead, you will find discussions of clean coal, nuclear energy and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia actually plays the starring role in the genius issue. One feature cheerleads Aramco, the state-owned oil giant, noting this is “easily the most profitable company on the planet� while displaying James Bond-ish photos of “next generation� oil wells. Meanwhile another article applauds the Kingdom’s vision of an uber-modern zero-carbon future city (which ironically would be entirely funded by petro profits).  Further articles speak of "the Saudi Arabia of Wind" and "the Sauidi Arabia of Lithium";  it seems in order to be significant in Forbes’ view, one ought to be the Saudi Arabia of something. While we can argue all day long about the merits of clean coal, the effects of carbon pricing on the economy, and the proper role of government subsidies, there seems to be little “genius� in continuing to promote dirty, non-renewable sources of energy.

Cellulosic ethanol maker Mascoma cut about five to 10 jobs as it finds itself between a rock and the credit crunch. Although it is hitting its technological milestones and has raised around $61 million, Mascoma has to cautiously watch its cash, CEO Bruce Jamerson told Martin Lamonica at News.com. "I'm trying to get ahead of this," Jamerson said. "I don't want to find out that in six months, things are more challenging. Then when you make cost reductions, it's even harder." Jamerson said that the grants from Michigan to develop a prototype facility are not in danger. Mascoma emerged from Dartmouth College. It is trying to develop microbes that can convert wood chips, grasses and other plant matter into ethanol. It says it differs from other ethanol companies in that its microbes can perform two tasks in creating cellulosic ethanol: The microbes can turn cellulose into sugar, and then sugar into alcohol. The company is also trying to increase the microbe's tolerance for alcohol (which, this being a Dartmouth project, somehow seems appropriate). Most microbes die when alcohol concentration gets up to 50 percent or so; that's why beer and wine aren't as strong as vodka.