What could be the largest solar cell project in America, Southern California Edison plans to place photovoltaic solar cells on 65 million square feet of California rooftops, with the ability to power 162,000 homes in southern California.

I'm intrigued to say the least, and not simply because a photovoltaic solar project of this scale is unusual considering how expensive the technology is. In fact, most large-scale solar projects involve solar thermal technology. I'm keeping my eye on this, especially since California's ambitious state mandate that 20 percent of California's electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2010. It will be interesting to see if other utility companies—and not just in California—follow suit.

"Perhaps the time has come to cease calling it the 'environmentalist' view, a though it were a lobbying effort outside the mainstream of human activity, and to start calling it the real-world view."

— Edward O. Wilson, Pellegrino University Professor Emeritus and Honorary Curator in Entomology at Harvard University, life-long and well-regarded naturalist and environmentalist.

Since when did hybrid vehicles gain Jetson status? Unreachable? In the case of hybrid vehicles, the basics tend to be muddled in with the complications people view as the primary reason not everyone can drive a hybrid.

Let's go with a few basics of the green car:

1. The gas-electric hybrid is your most common type of green car, attempting to merge reduced emissions and improve efficiency.

2. The electric motor is powered by batteries that recharge as you drive, assisting in acceleration and helping slow the vehicle down. In a sense, the motor is both an accelerator and a generator.

3. When stopped in traffic, the motor shuts the engine off until acceleration occurs.

4. The aerodynamics are re-tooled to maximize efficiency and minimize drag.

Now obviously there are finer and more technical aspects of the green car—this is but a mere scratch on the surface. Whether or not that means you should buy a hybrid is not the point here. Understanding how a hybrid operates (you don't necessarily have to plug them in to charge) is just as important. How else will you be able to debate your passion for green energy?

Besides, hybrids have feelings too ya know...