Air Date: November 15, 1991

SEGMENTS

Sun rises on National Solar Lab / Peter Thomson

Living on Earth's Peter Thomson visits the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, which has just been upgraded to a National Laboratory. Funding for NREL and other Federal renewable energy research projects is rising after being drastically curtailed during the 1980s, although it remains far below pre-Reagan administration highs. (05:35)

Hopi Solar Project / George Hardeen

George Hardeen reports on a project that has brought solar electricity to two dozen homes on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Northern Arizona. Isolated from surrounding communities, the Hopi have remained off the power grid for religious reasons. (06:25)

High-End Solar / Steve Curwood

Steve visits a state-of-the-art "solar home" in Brookline, Massachusetts, and talks with its designer, Steve Strong. It was Strong's work on the Alaska oil pipeline project in the early 1970’s that convinced him solar was the way to go. He spent the 1980’s designing solar buildings for utilities and homeowners willing to invest in solar demonstration projects. (05:33)

Practical Solar: Here and Now

Steve talks with Lester Brown, president of the Worldwatch Institute in Washington, about emerging solar technologies. Brown says that practical, affordable solar energy isn't just around the corner. . . it’s here. (04:03)

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Sun rises on National Solar Lab

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Hopi Solar Project

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High-End Solar

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Practical Solar: Here and Now

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