From Publishers Weekly
The much-discussed and highly regarded 2006 book and film by Gore arrives on audio two years later. While the material and central focus on global warming is clearly the most important aspect of the book, Beau Bridges is the only truly captivating reader here. Cynthia Nixon and Blair Underwood tend to drone on in monotone voices that take some of the impact out of Gore’s findings. Bridges, however, reads with a stern and commanding tone that grips readers from (more…)

Solar Celebrities in Hollywood?

Green is the new “black” in Hollywood these days.  It is hard to check out at the grocery store without seeing numerous magazines emblazoned with photos of the latest environmental efforts of the silver screen’s biggest stars.  While kudos go out to all those people who buy eco-friendly clothing and drive hybrid cars, the biggest bang for the environmental buck results from switching over to solar energy.

The following solar celebrities have made a big investment in installing solar panels on their homes and spreading the word about renewable energy choices.  Some are even helping less privileged people go solar as well!  Is your favorite celebrity on the list?  Did I miss any solar celebrities?

Cate Blanchett

First up is the lovely Cate Blanchett.  The Academy Award-winning actress lives in Australia with her husband and children in a home that is entirely off-grid, powered by solar panels.  Famous for her roles in the Lord of the Rings triology and Elizabeth, Cate and her husband Andrew Upton also work with the Sydney Theatre Company as co-directors.  Green suits Cate well.  Not only does she live in a solar-powered home, but she and Andrew led the effort to have solar panels installed at the Sydney Theatre Company, and also set up a system to collect rainwater for re-use.

Daryl Hannah

Daryl Hannah is another solar celebrity that is very well-known, even if she is less seen these days following her famous relationship with JFK, Jr.  It shouldn’t be too surprising that Ms. Hannah has gone green at her home in the Rocky Mountains.  Like Cate Blanchett, she lives off the grid and receives all her electrical power from the solar panels installed on her home.  Daryl gets around in her car that is powered by biodiesel from recycled cooking oil.  I found her so endearing in Splash, starring with Tom Hanks so many years ago.  She continues her successful career directing and occasionally starring in movies.

Edward Norton

Very impressive is Edward Norton, who not only has installed solar panels on his home, he is helping less privileged families do the same.  Norton established a non-profit called BP Solar Neighbors.  Every time a celebrity installs solar panels on their home through the program, BP Solar Neighbors donates a solar system to a low-income family in California.  The actors that have participated in the program include:

Edward Norton, Ed Begley, Jr., Don Cheadle, Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman, Roland Emmerich, Larry Hagman, Daryl Hannah, Rob Thomas, Ben Goldhirsch, Carlos Santana, Alicia Silverstone, Buck Henry, Wendie Malick, John Densmore, Robin Williams, Naren Shankar, Anthony Keidis, Eric and Tania Idle, Peter Reckell, Owen Wilson, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, Jack Johnson.

I just love Edward Norton!  Such a successful actor with an amazing gift in bringing his characters to life (my favorites are the Painted Veil and Kingdom of Heaven).  I love him even more for his significant efforts to help people switch to solar energy!

Depp, Bloom and pirate gang

Woody Harrelson

Another famous solar celebrity is Woody Harrelson, the once cute sidekick on the Cheers sitcom and now very-busy serious film actor nominated for numerous Academy Awards.  Harrelson lives in a community in Hawaii that is entirely solar-powered.  Says Harrelson:

“Everybody in the neighborhood has solar power for homes,” he says. “People get the concept that it’s like a commune, but this was a neighborhood that’s been there long before I got there. They just never wanted power lines.”

Living off solar power may be the least of Harrelson’s green activities.  He campaigns tirelessly to protect animals, participates in activist campaigns to save the redwoods and also drives a biodiesel car.

Larry Hagman during Dallas

Can you believe that Larry Hagman of Dallas fame is a solar celebrity?  Indeed, its true!  In fact, some people have claimed that Hagman is actually the “son of solar” because he owns one of the largest residential solar power systems in the United States.  Could it be that its also because he owns one of the largest homes?  Hmmmmm…..

Anyway, Hagman is quite proud of his switch to solar energy.  His home generates an astounding 150,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar energy per year.  This amount could power at least 10 times as many regular households!  Hagman saw his annual electric bill drop from $37,000 (yes, 5 figures!) to only $13.  I could care less who shot J.R. when faced with amazing figures like this!

Gore and DiCaprio

A list of solar celebrities would not be complete without mentioning two of renewable energy’s biggest proponents, Leonardo DiCaprio and Al Gore.  DiCaprio is almost as well-known for his environmental activism as he is for his amazing acting.  He has appeared with Al Gore to raise awareness about global warming, and tries to “walk the walk” in his own life, having solar panels installed on his home and driving a hybrid car.

Now some would claim that Al Gore is not a celebrity in that he does not fit in with the Hollywood actors on this list.  However, as the former Vice-President, Presidential Candidate and also the director of an Academy-Award winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, he is definitely as well-known as any other celebrity.  Mr. Gore has won many awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize and is famous for his efforts to save the environment. Oh yes – and he has solar panels installed on his house, as well.

Why should we care about solar celebrities, you may ask?  Well, with their greater media exposure, they have an opportunity to lead by example.  Many people emulate celebrities and wish to adopt similar lifestyles.  I’m glad to see so many in Hollywood going solar.

So I asked who is your favorite solar celebrity…. I think its a tie for me:  Edward Norton and Leo DiCaprio. Nah…. their good looks had nothing to do with it.

Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth

I love Al Gore.  Not a romantic love (good grief!) but, a “thank you for opening my eyes,” kind of love.  The former Vice-President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate received an Oscar for his 2006 documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”  Startling images of huge melting glaciers still haunt me after viewing the film.  People are finally waking up to the reality that is global warming and seem ready to do something about it.  After years of solar power promises, are we ready to see some deliverables?

Mr. Gore has been an exciting cheerleader recently, assuring us that we can shift 100% to green power sources, like solar energy, within 10 years.  On the other hand, Greenpeace International believes it will take until 2090!  Who is right?  Will our children’s children’s children still be fighting for solar power projects against Big Oil interests?  Who do we believe?

Barack Obama, President-Elect

There is a new team coming to Washington in January 2009.  Barack Obama and Joe Biden campaigned heavily on clean-up – both in D.C. and globally.  Obama has made the following solar power promises to the American people in his New Energy Plan, and we sure hope that he can make good on them:

1. Creation of 5 million “green collar” jobs by investing $150 billion over 10 years to jump start private development of clean energy sources, such as solar power
2. “Fast track” investments in renewable energy sources
3. Establishing a national Renewable Electricity Standard under which utilities must obtain 10% of their power from clean energy sources by 2012, and 25% by 2025
4. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020, and cut in half from present levels by 2050.
5. Solar power plants with 8-hour storage capabilities will meet 10%-to-13% of the projected demand (110-to-180 gigawatts).
6. Solar PV projects will provide 3%-to-6% of the projected demand.

“Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.”

 Mr. Obama makes solar power promises from PV Powered, a solar panel/solar inverter company in Bend, Oregon on May 10, 2008:

Many believe that Obama’s plan is more realistic than Gore’s projections.  Another relevant fact to consider is that Greenpeace’s dour prediction of 2090 is based on a world-wide shift to 100% renewable energy, not limited to the United States.

Still, President-Elect Obama has promised a lot when it comes to going green.  He has quite a bit to manage in his first 100 days in office, let alone the next 4 years.  The economic crisis will definitely require immediate attention, which could easily push the solar power promises down on Obama’s “to do” list.

When it comes to solar power, are we listening to politicians making promises they “knew they’d never keep?”  My trust is in Mr. Obama and his new administration to finally get our country going green and achieving energy independence.  I am tired of all the promises, promises.

What do you think?  Will we see some real change in the next four years?  Or do you think the solar power promises are not realistic?