Turner was very entertaining, and I'll have to save many of his more memorable remarks for a podcast. Simply quoting him won't capture the flavor and personality.

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"Solar Power 2007 Round-Up" -- Articles, podcasts, blogs and webinars from the conference.

Behind the humorous and candid quips were serious assertions from a man who has swayed federal communications policy and irreversibly changed the television industry -- and has now focused his attention and fortune on energy.

Turner is emphatic about eliminating the use of fossil fuels. He is concerned about climate change, as well as air quality -- he noted worsening pollution and the increased incidence of asthma globally -- but doesn't cache his profit motive.

Turner called renewable energy "the biggest business opportunity in the history of humanity." The world must rethink its energy regime, he said, and solar will be an important part of the solution.

On the issue of cost parity, Turner favors including the environmental cost of each energy source. "There's a lot of work to do in Washington DC to level the playing field," he said.

Turner proposed cutting military budgets by half, and spending the money on research and development to make renewable energy technology available to the world. He questioned the need for a large, conventional military today. "The only enemies are the ones we create," Turner said. "Let's give them solar panels. Let's give them doctors."

Solar Powr 2007 press conference following the opening plenary. From left: Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster; Ted Turner.

Following the on-stage discussion, Turner joined the other keynote speakers for a press conference. One journalist began a question by mentioning the premise that climate change is a cyclical phenomenon not influenced by humans.

Turner leapt to his feet and cut off the questioner.

"Cyclical?" Turner exclaimed, as cameras clicked. "Do you mean to say that combating global warming would be for naught? If we act now, and climate change turns out to be cyclical, then at least we'll get cleaner air and help ourselves economically."

With that, Turner left the room. A grand finale from a man who knows the media inside and out.