Tan 8, or Technical Advice Note 8, established seven strategic areas thought to be suitable as sites for developing wind energy on a large scale.

BBC: Llanllwni

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has articulated a goal of developing 2, 000 megawatts of wind energy by 2020, with most of it offshore.

FORBES: In A Bold Move, Massachusetts Stakes Out Its Role in US Offshore Wind Development

This includes everything from tapping our offshore oil supplies and vast natural gas reserves, to doubling down on clean energy resources like wind and solar power, to developing new technologies that help us use less energy altogether.

WHITEHOUSE: By the Numbers: $4 Billion

Realizing that the electric car market might not take off as quickly as expected, A123 also made forays into other markets, such as developing energy storage systems to bank wind or solar electricity.

FORBES: China's Wanxiang Wins Deal To Scoop Up Troubled Battery Maker A123 Systems

In other green transportation news, a team from MIT is working on developing ionic wind thrusters that would serve as an energy-efficient, low-emission alternative to jet engines.

ENGADGET: Inhabitat's Week in Green: algae-powered building, ionic wind thrusters and 3D-textured solar cells

It is developing giant off-shore wind turbines, biomass power plants (including projects in Florida and Washington with Duke Energy), and, with its Ausra acquisition, solar thermal power plants.

FORBES: Solar Thermal or Solar Photovoltaic? Areva Says 'Both!'