Clean Energy 2030: Google’s Green Energy Future Revealed -- It’ll Save U.S. $1 Trillion

Clean Energy 2030: Google’s Green Energy Future Revealed -- It’ll Save U.S. $1 Trillion
How to Do This
As to how to make all of this actually happen, Google recommends a number of steps similar to those touted by many in the renewable energy industry and the green movement in general.
In terms of renewable energy, “a long-term national commitment” such as a national renewable portfolio standard, carbon price, or long-term renewable energy tax incentives is required. Additionally, as Google has stated before, the nation’s transmission capacity needs to be expanded and modernized. Greater public and private investment into renewable energy R&D is required in order to bring renewables into cost parity with fossil fuels.
Energy efficiency measures needed include: A long-term commitment to energy efficiency by the federal government and states; and the development of a smart electric grid to allow electric consumers to better monitor their electricity use.
For personal vehicles: Public policy needs to support higher fuel efficiency standards, financial incentives to remove older vehicles from the fleet, encourage efficient (and plug-in) vehicle purchases. Another critical step is the development of infrastructure to support widespread deployment of electric plug-in vehicles.
And What Will All This Cost?
Google’s version of the green energy revolution isn’t exactly cheap, but the long term savings aren’t exactly chump change either. In 2008 dollars, Google says that over the next 22 years its plan will cost about, wait for it, 4.4 trillion dollars. Yes, 4.4 trillion. But the expected monetary savings (leaving aside entirely uncalculated environmental benefits, like, well, still having a planet with a modicum of intact ecosystems) is calculated to be in the range of $5.4 trillion. So, provided we can muster the political willpower—for that’s the stumbling block here—we can realize a net savings of $1.0 trillion dollars.

from - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/google-clean-energy-2030-renewable-energy-climate-change-plan.php