We got everyone's attention, but we didn't solve any environmental problems.

When civilization stands at the edge of a cliff, a step forward doesn't make much sense.

Listen up, you couch potatoes: each recycled beer can saves enough electricity to run a television for three hours.

When we held the first Earth Day, everyone said it was a success because of the huge turnout. It was probably the largest planned event across the country.

I feel more confident than ever that the power to save the planet rests with the individual consumer.

Our goal is to turn solar electric technologies into a commodity business like computer chips, and make them ubiquitous in the built environment. I'd couple this with a huge commitment to fundamental research in nanostructure to goose the next generation of more efficient, cheaper, dematerialized cells. And if I'm truly czar, I'd emphasize silicon technologies, as that approach is the one least likely to encounter material constraints in supplying an explosive global demand.

I suppose I'd characterize myself as having a faith-based optimism. My faith is parental and Darwinian.