About Pete Danko:

Sports columnist, newspaper desk guy, website managing editor, wine-industry PR specialist, freelance writer—Pete Danko’s career in media has covered a lot of terrain. The constant along the way has been a fierce dedication to knowing the story and getting it right. Danko's work has appeared in Wired, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle and elsewhere.

Posts by Pete Danko:

Urban Wind Energy That’s Fuzzy And Fetching

Söder Torn extended and electrified using composite material with piezoelectric properties (image via Belatchew Arkitekter

The “Strawscaper” by Belatchew Arkitekter in Stockholm would use piezoelectric technology to turn the movement of air into electricity.

Smart Fortwo Electric Hits US With Battery Option

smart fortwo electric

The tiny Smart fortwo EV is making its way to U.S. dealers, and the company says you can buy or lease the vehicle with or without the battery.

US Military Loves Solar, And The Feeling Is Mutual

Solar is making its way to the battlefield – here as part of a water purification system in Afghanistan – but the much bigger use is to power domestic bases and other facilities, including housing. (image via U.S. Marines)

At 130 megawatts, the U.S. military is using a lot of solar power – but a new industry report highlights the huge amount that will come in the next several years.

Massive SoCal Wind Turbine Blade Breaks Off

ocotillo turbine blade throw

A 173-foot-long blade breaks off a Siemens wind turbine at a Southern California wind farm, leading the company to curtail operations worldwide.

Solar Impulse Bathroom Mystery Solved

solar impulse bottle

The flights stretch on for 18 hours or more. So what does the Solar Impulse pilot do when he has to, you know, go?

SolarCity, Goldman Sachs In Big Solar Finance Deal

solarcity goldman sachs

Goldman Sachs will pump $500 million into SolarCity solar lease projects, backing 110 megawatts in installations.

New Solar: From 100% In March To 2.5% In April

One of the new big solar projects that came online in April was this one in Gridley, Calif. (image via Blue Oak Energy)

Solar’s proportion of new generating capacity plunged in April. But don’t worry. Everything is OK.

Two Quirky Turbines, Combined At Sea

image via MODEC

A Japanese company will apparently give hybrid wind-and-tidal energy a go with a device employing Darrieus and Savonius turbines.

DOE Drives Hydrogen Car Infrastructure Push

Hydrogen fueling station in California (image via

If fuel-cell vehicles are ever going to get anywhere, they’ll need places to fuel up, and the public-private H2USA initiative is aimed at developing the infrastructure.

Solar Impulse Awaits Dallas Weather Window

solar impulse phoenix dallas

The solar-powered Solar Impulse airplane has drawn big crowds to see it in Phoenix, where it will stay until at least May 20 before resuming a cross-U.S. trip.