As America struggles down the road toward a coherent energy policy that focuses on a higher degree of self-reliance, policymakers face numerous issues and realities. These include: the finite supply and environmental impact of fossil fuels, the feasibility and costs to implement a widespread switch to renewable energy sources, and the variables that lead to consumers' preferences for particular types of power generation.

Mainstream business is catching up to what the sustainability community has intuitively known for a long time: a sustainable approach is more profitable. From KKR (the private equity firm) to manufacturers such as Interface FLOR (famous amongst the sustainability community but not often known outside it) to household names like Xerox, corporations are beginning to embrace the profit benefits of taking a more considered approach.

Why? Because reducing emissions saves energy costs, reducing waste saves raw materials, recycling avoids manufacturing costs, meeting changing customer needs wins market share, giving staff a cause improves productivity and morale, raising the bar for competitors creates competitive advantage, and addressing long term risks is good business practice.