And its backers, including Mr. Bush, hope it will help keep hope alive among the Western Hemisphere's nations for the long-promised but repeatedly postponed Pan-American trade pact, the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

NPR: Central America Trade Deal a Hard Sell

So is the success of clean energy a flash in the pan, or does green-tech have a long-term future?

CNN: The smart money's on green

Yes, we've come a long way since the days when piano bars on Pan Am planes brought glamour and romance to air travel.

WSJ: Book Review: Attention All Passengers