President Obama visits McKinstry, promises carbon constraints, and talks of a green recovery. Carol Browner reports directly to the President in the newly created role of energy and climate-change czar.

A $60 billion energy stimulus provision in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 -- after four years of inactivity -- finally shakes loose its first check, to a company making solar modules for commercial buildings. Stimulus dollars and the federal budget will dwarf that program in 2009.

Businesses shift priorities to three bottom lines, instead of one. Consumers put pressure on businesses that don't. The age of rampant greenwashing (and its consultants) is drawing to a close. Independent certification and verification systems emerge.

The public perception of "green" is dramatically altered. Combating climate change moves from a public cost to a possible path out of economic recession with green jobs. Even sports are going green. Beijing, Vancouver, London and Sochi strive to host the greenest Olympics ever.

You devour articles on new green ideas, sharing them with your friends, deepening your knowledge and theirs. You attend sold-out programs about clean technologies. The Renewable Energy World conference has 15,000 attendees; Greenbuild, 30,000.

You ask the tough questions, pushing your company and employees to be ever greener. You apply your experience and entrepreneurial spirit to meaningful new businesses.

You are the value in what we do here. From all of us, thank you for five excellent years. We look forward to the next five!