Report from the M.I.T. Energy Conference: The future of clean energy is… coal?

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.


The day began with a great deal of enthusiasm about the gains the U.S. and the world can make by quickly building up renewable energy supplies, to beat back climate change, get the country off oil, and even end the economic crisis by creating scads of green jobs. Founders of innovative companies said they have the know-how and the technology to commercialize solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric supplies, as well as efficiency gains and a smart grid. (We live-Twittered the conference, so you can find the play-by-play, with additional input from our followers, here.)

But despite their readiness, and the excitement over President Obama