Utilities and environmental groups are coming together to help modernize the transmission system. It's an arduous job that requires conciliation and patience. Together, they seek to improve the grid's capabilities to allow it to carry more green electrons as well as provide customers with the information they need to make better energy choices. With Congress now considering national renewable energy mandates and at least half the states with such laws on their books, electric companies must have a way to deliver the expected use of those renewables.

Production Pipeline: Data From Satellites To Visualization is a link to a video animation showing why visualization is important and features segments on artic sea ice among others.

A mapping service allowing visual comparison of renewable energy statistics in Europe is now available from the specialist search engine for renewable energy and energy efficiency, reegle. Users can select renewable energy statistics in European countries and compare them using a time lapse animation on a full-screen map with the underlying data provided by Eurostat. Energy data is available back to 1997, so users can digest trends over time and compare how different European countries have moved forward on clean and renewable energy over the selected period.

NREL - March 15, 2010 - The photovoltaic (PV) market now has an eye-popping, interactive bevy of maps and charts that can let anyone know where PV panels are being installed, how big they are, how much they cost and how fast the industry is booming. Interested in where PV is installed in the U.S. and how it has grown over time? Go to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Web site, openpv.nrel.gov, and find a dynamic time map showing PV installation activity in the U.S. from 1998 to 2009. Want to know how fast the cost per watt is plunging in Wisconsin or California?