Reducing Emissions From Energy - 12.11.2011

This week energyNOW! looks at solar success stories, and how a deep-water discovery off Israel's coast could change the Middle East's energy landscape forever and help American motorists drive with fewer emissions.
The Israel Connection: An Offshore Energy Future
To power itself, Israel relies on fossil fuels from hostile neighbors - a reliance loaded with risk. Israel depends on natural gas from Egypt to generate 40 percent of its electricity. That supply has been cut off several times this year after terrorists attacked the pipelines in Egypt. But an offshore natural gas discovery could replace Israel's foreign energy imports, and help the U.S. boost its own energy independence along the way.
As part of energyNOW!'s "The Israel Connection" series, chief correspondent Tyler Suiters looked at the natural gas discovery some are calling "the most important energy news since the founding of Israel."
Taking Charge: The Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor
Even though gasoline may be costly, it's still easy to find a gas station when you need to fill up your car. The convenient nationwide network of filling stations has been built over the past 100 years, giving oil-based fuels an advantage over newer alternatives, like hydrogen and natural gas.
Correspondent Lee Patrick Sullivan reports from California on efforts to build a new network of alternative fuel filling stations - the Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor.
Solar Leasing: Power for Pennies
Innovative leasing programs are opening new markets for solar panels and new opportunities for generating clean electricity - and at a much lower cost to consumers.
Correspondent Patty Kim visits the Cincinnati Zoo and a San Francisco start-up company to learn how a new financing model connects solar power investors and manufacturers with people who want to install solar arrays on their homes and businesses to lock in low prices for decades.