The Edison Electric Institute reports that U.S. electric power output hit a new winter record of 89, 483 gigawatt hours last week.

FORBES: Cold Snap Spurs Winter Electric Record

Although a powerful military could not be sustained over the long haul without a prosperous economic base, it has been unusual, until recently in the case of China, to describe a country's power in terms of its economic output or its dominance of key industrial or trade sectors.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Reduced flow rates on China's greatest rivers have made hydro plants reduce badly needed power output: many smelters, paper mills and petrochemical plants are no longer sure of getting the huge amounts of water they require.

ECONOMIST: China and water

The Volt's battery needs to be both a sprinter and a marathoner in power output.

FORBES: Magazine Article

If solar power is to make up much of the world's electricity output in future, as supporters of alternative energy hope it will, a lot of land will be needed for the power stations.

ECONOMIST: Solar energy

Western Australia's Alinta is the latest big energy distributor to expand its "green" output, announcing Tuesday it will take power from a 90-megawatt wind farm to be built near Geraldton.

CNN: story.codringtonwindfarm.jpg