Even America is thinking again: in 20-odd states that require utilities to generate a proportion of their power from renewable sources, waste-to-energy plants count towards the goal.

ECONOMIST: The waste business smells of money

We have doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas, and the amount of renewable energy we generate from sources like wind and solar -- with tens of thousands of good American jobs to show for it.

WHITEHOUSE: State of the Union 2013

We have doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas, and the amount of renewable energy we generate from sources like wind and solar - with tens of thousands of good American jobs to show for it.

BBC: State of the Union: Obama pledges to reignite economy

"Moreover, in places that do generate electricity from renewable sources, it would be more cost-effective to use that electricity to power electric or plug-in hybrid cars than high-speed rail, " O'Toole said.

CNN: Is the U.S. turning a corner on high-speed rail?

Improving U.S. cyclical dynamics should disproportionately benefit smaller U.S. companies, in particular, because the small- and mid-cap stock indexes have greater exposure to economically sensitive sectors than large-caps, and generate a higher portion of earnings from domestic sources.

FORBES: Small-Caps Could Usher In The New Year With A Bang