Green news harvest: Detroit's woes, energy policy changes on tap

A sampling of green-tech news with quick commentary.

• Adviser: Obama will act quickly on climate change --Reuters
  A high-level Obama energy adviser says to expect fast action on climate and energy. The clean-tech industry hangs on every word.
• Bailout turns on automakers' viability--WSJ.com
  One idea being floated: that public money be contingent on automakers' investing in more fuel-efficient cars.
• Gore says no to 'Climate Czar' role--The Washington Times
  Former VP Al Gore not interested in a government job.

SolFocus' array concentrates sunlight hundreds of times with mirrors onto high-performance solar cells.
(Credit: SolFocus)
• SolFocus boosts solar efficiency--Greentech Media
  Concentrating photovoltaics upstart boasts 25 percent efficiency in converting solar energy to electricity.
• Electric-powered future two years away?--Forbes Auto
  A briefing on the vehicle-to-grid concept, which optimists say is mostly about integrating existing technology.
• Flipswap announces $14 million capital investment--Press release
  More money going to firms that develop software for trading in cell phones.
• Desktop workstations serious power drain for big companies--Environmental Leader
  Energy usage in IT tends to focus on data centers but desktops, often left on overnight, are major consumers as well.
• Best of what's new 2008--Popular Science
  A look at some interesting green-tech companies, from materials to home wind power.
• Ethanol firms join forces against critics--The Des Moines Register
  Complaining that ethanol's getting a bad rap, ethanol makers band together for PR campaign.
• Is carbon capture and storage the fix?--BusinessWeek
  A visit to a testing facility for carbon capture and storage, promoted as a key to solving climate change but criticized as risky.