Mad Like Tesla: Underdog Inventors and Their Relentless Pursuit of Clean Energy was launched this month and has been well-received. The reviews so far have been positive, and awareness of the book is slowly building. But not fast enough. I want to take this moment to ask my readers, many of whom have already purchased the book (thank you!), to help spread the word. Share this link or the Mad Like Tesla website (www.madliketesla.com) on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Refer to it when commenting on the various blogs you might follow. And for my media friends out there — whether in the mainstream press or the blogosphere — please consider a review, or alternatively, I’m happy to chat about the many odd and inspiring stories in this book. Please see press release here.

Thank you all for your ongoing interest and support. BTW: Many have asked, so I’m happy to report that the e-book version of Mad Like Tesla is now available at Amazon.com.

Also, I had a chance to attend a panel at the BIO World Congress conference in Toronto this week on the challenges of producing renewable jet fuel. The panellists all agreed that producing low-carbon jet fuel from algae, jatropha, camelina and wood was not only technically doable but could be done economically. The potential problem, as one panellist pointed out, is that producers may opt first to make higher value products, such as green chemicals and nutriceuticals, which can fetch a much higher price per litre and, by association, a higher profit. In other words, we can make the green jet fuel, but will we use it as jet fuel?

So far, that’s Rentech’s intention — but will it change its mind? Either way, from a climate perspective, the end product will still presumably displace petroleum-based feedstocks, so it would seem all good in the end.

I do want to point out a few upcoming events, however. Read below for details on the Greening Greater Toronto Marketplace on May 12, an alternative energy panel I’m moderating at the Empire Club of Canada on May 21, and the Net-Zero Energy Home Awards on June 8.

First, there’s the Greening Greater Toronto Marketplace happening this Tuesday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The marketplace was created by the Greening Greater Toronto Alliance in partnership with the Toronto Region Research Alliance to help local clean-energy and green technology companies get the early orders they need to demonstrate the effectiveness of their products. The idea is that the province’s big corporate and government purchasers become a showcase for made-in-Ontario products that have large domestic and export potential. More than 100 large corporate and government purchasers, representing about $50 billion in procurement power, will be brought together with more than 20 local greentech suppliers. Hopefully they’ll do a friendly dance and strikes some great relationships. This is the first of what’s expected to be an annual affair.

Second, for those who are interested in a lunch-and-learn session, I’ll be moderating a panel on May 21 starting at 11:45 a.m. that will explore alternative energy technologies in Canada and the potential they have to change our electricity and transportation systems. Tom Heintzman, president of green electricity retailer Bullfrog Power; Kerry Adler, CEO of wind and solar developer SkyPower Corp.; and John Thomson, CEO of biogas developer Yield Energy, will be my panelists. Much of the talk will be around opportunities presented by Ontario’s new Green Energy Act, which could get Royal Assent as early as this week.

Finally, the Net-Zero Energy Home Coalition will be holding its inaugural NZEH awards event on the evening of June 8 (a Monday) in Montreal. It will take place at the Westin Hotel. It’s a chance to begin recognizing the important work going on in the builder/architectural community as it relates to net-zero homes, and more importantly the development of net-zero energy homes that can be easily replicated and that don’t come with an obscene premium. Disclosure: I am one of the four judges, and I can confidently say there is impressive work going on. Given the proper planning, there’s no reason why every new home can’t be a net-zero home — or close to it!