Welcome to the Green Chip Review's Weekend Edition — our insights from the week in everything renewable energy and cleantech, as well as links to our most-read Green Chip Review and sister publication articles.  

If I had to sum up the week in a one word, it would be emissions.

It began Monday, when Apple became the latest company to renounce membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Apple joins Exelon, PG&E, and PNM Resources, who quit last month. Nike resigned from the board at the end of last month.

All this because of the Chamber's negative stance — and lobbying against— any progressive climate legislation, namely the regulation of carbon emissions.

It's a big win when you've got major energy and technology players in your corner — especially when climate legislation would impose regulations on some of their businesses.

Seemingly on cue, President Obama ordered federal agencies on Monday to set a goal for cutting emissions within the next 90 days. Every agency will have to "measure, manage, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward agency-defined targets."

I guess higher ups in the business and political world are tired of the U.S. being criticized on an international scale for its action (or lack of action), concerning climate change. In this week's jab, Mexico called us a "stumbling block" to U.N. climate talks.

Other nations and even carbon intensive businesses are taking action. Russia announced this week that it will ban incandescent bulbs after 2014.

And in a surprise move, the Canadian government promised Royal Dutch Shell $823 million to develop carbon capture and storage at its Albert tar sands operation.

I mention all this for one reason: clean technology being used to curb emissions all over the globe.

Recognizing this trend — and acting on it by investing — is already generating wealth across the globe. . . for everyone from residents of developing nations to managers of billion-dollar hedge funds.

And, week after week, the evidence of this happening is mounting.

This week, for example, Reuters reported that solar and wind executives are almost giddy about the projects taking shape as the result of stimulus dollars in the U.S. and China. Efforts in the Middle Kingdom will make it the largest wind market this year, with about 10 GW of new installed capacity.

Solar installation will grow over 250% globally by 2015.

And, it was announced by Geothermal Energy Association this week that U.S. "installed geothermal capacity is set to increase more than threefold in the coming years."

The smart grid, for its part, is making all this possible by improving the grid, reducing demand, communicating with utilities, and generally making it easier for renewable energy integration.

Perhaps that's why the head of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was singing smart grid praises this week, saying demand reduction could reduce U.S. electricity consumption by 20%, in addition to facilitating the introduction of more clean power.

"You've got EnerNOC, you've got Comverge, you've got 10 other companies that are out there now doing this on a very robust basis, because they understand that they could make money at it," he said.

Green Chip investors are making money from this ongoing transition as well.

In case you missed our most-read articles from Green Chip and our sister publications, you can check them out below. 

Call it like you see it,

Nick

Investing in Combustible Ice: The Role of Flaming Ice as an Energy Solution
Wealth Daily Editor Christian DeHaemer talks about methane clathrate's potential as a future energy source and the compound's effects on climate.

Solar Stocks for 2010: Delivering Next Year's Winners. . . Right Now
Energy & Capital Editor Nick Hodge shares his top solar stocks for 2010.

Profiting with the Smart Grid: These 3 Stocks have Already Tripled
Over the past 10 months, GE, Google, IBM, and Cisco have invested $3 billion in a new technology that Energy Secretary Steven Chu has called an "urgent national priority."  We reveal information you can't afford to miss about smart grid stocks.

Canadian Wind Energy: Plutonic Power and Enbridge: Canadian Energy's Odd Couple
Editor Sam Hopkins reveals the key players behind a massive expansion of Canadian wind energy investment and capacity.

Apple Climate Change: Apples Leaves the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over Climate Change Position
Green Chip's Jeff Siegel talks about Apple's announcement to join the ranks of businesses leaving the Chamber.

You Have 82 Days: That's All the Time Remaining to Buy this Stock Before it Soars 112%
The 8th-largest economy in the world will mandate the use of this company's wind power. . . but there's still time for you to get in on this moneymaker. 

DOE Geothermal Research: DOE to research Geothermal Potential in Oil Production
Editor Kyle Haas discusses a joint project between the DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for geothermal research.