If this town in Italy can be 100% dependent on renewable power, why can't towns/cities in the U.S. do the same?

It really makes me angry to live in a country that holds itself out as a world leader, yet we need to look at small towns in Italy to see examples of the Power Revolution. It frightens me that Big Oil stands in the way of the U.S. leading the Revolution.

Amen to this! I have been wondering the same thing for years. We, in the U.S., tout ourselves as the greatest in everthing ... especially technology ... but where is this wonderful knowledge leading us?

Most Americans can barely keep up with the cost of power to our homes and autos, and then we find out there is something this available and simple to ease this burden! Grrrrrrr!

I'm angry that the big corporations and government have done nothing to promote this kind of technology to help us .. and ultimately help themselves (once they get past the handouts and pay-offs from the oil companies)!

In the 70's the U.S. was held hostage by OPEC. Jimmy Carter witnessed our country held hostage by our energy exporters and instituted projects to develop alternative energy sources. His efforst were subsequently killed by the conservative's/republican's hero Ronald Reagan.

Still today we subsidize the U.S. oil oligarchy keeping gas prices artificially low and stifling innovation and development of alternative fuels.

Jimmy Carter looks smarter and smarter every day.

this clipper has done great work in this area
http://urbanlife.clipmarks.com/
cool clipcast too

It frightens me also, egoldstein. It frightens me very, very much.

My kind of town! The town did this for itself. It wasn't done for the town by the Italian Government. No doubt, if they waited for approval / permission from above, they'd still be waiting. I think that the biggest lesson in this success story might be "JUST DO IT".

the government only does what its pushed to do ,It's up to us to bring the issue to tipping point by promoting sustainability through are own lives
heres some sites to point in the right direction
http://lighterfootstep.com/
http://www.hugg.com/
http://www.worldchanging.com/

Because the oil companies almost run the government?

a country that holds itself out as a world leader

Waht happens to the country that is being taken over... It slowly goes bankrupt. The laws become more exacting. There is propaganda used to change the mind of the masses. Where has all this apathy of the Americans come from?

You will find us in history. Recent and ancient. http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2064157,00.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/why-we-should-worry-about_b_21956.html

Energy efficiency seems to be something that has to be improved despite the government.
It looks like it could come from the ground up. Small scale examples of how money and energy can be saved, catching people's eye, and they become encouraged to try the same thing. It's amazing how satisfying it can be to be (relatively) self sufficient. Working with nature rather than against it.