Reinventing Fire: An “Idea Worth Spreading”

With over 500 million views since TED started posting video, TEDTalks have become a powerful cultural force featuring world-changing ideas from the likes of Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson. Not a bad list! Now RMI Chief Scientist Amory Lovins joins this prestigious group for the second time.

In his last TEDTalk filmed in 2005, Amory Lovins laid out an ambitious plan to wean the U.S. off oil. In a followup article published by CNN in 2010, Lovins describes progress made in translating these ideas into private sector innovations.

Our addiction to oil remains a central threat to our economic health, security, and environment. I, for one, was less than thrilled to spend $62 to fill up my Jetta Sportwagen this morning. But this is only one of many signs that we are nearing a tipping point where alternatives to fossil fuels can compete. In this context, RMI has again armed the market with a new vision through Reinventing Fire. This time, we show not only how to end our reliance on oil, but coal and nuclear as well.

In his new TEDTalk, watch Amory Lovins describe how we can do all of this by catalyzing our most dynamic force—the power of business.

Now, we need you to help us put TED’s “ideas worth spreading” tagline to the test! Watch Amory’s TEDTalk and share with your friends. Then, post your comments below.