Think small: A wave of interest in small dwellings

When John Friedman and Kristin Shepherd of Berkeley, Calif., purchased 160 acres in the mountains near Telluride, Colo., it was with the intent to build — just not right away. Before designing a small, ecologically sensitive second home they wanted to spend a year or two visiting the land to determine the most suitable building site. But at an elevation of 9,600 feet, living in tents was out.—by Bethany Lyttle, The New York Times

Texas companies plan wind, gas, coal power plants

Bid to connect state to Panhandle energy a contrast to TXU effort.

Several Texas energy companies offered Thursday to build a string of wind, gas and coal-fired power plants and transmission lines across the Panhandle that could lessen the state's future dependence on coal while supplying enough electricity for more than a million Texas homes.—by Jim Landers and Elizabeth Souder, The Dallas Morning News

Rival firms dispute coal gasification

TXU Corp.'s plan to build 11 coal-fired power plants became the center of debate at a national energy conference Thursday, with the head of a New Jersey company advocating coal gasification as a cleaner source of electricity for Texas.—by Dan Piller, staff writer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Coal debate generates high-dollar ad campaigns

A teddy-bear-clutching child kept safe from monsters by an electric night light and a coal-smudged face from a Dickensian nightmare of grime and death: These are the opposing emotional icons in the biggest environmental-business war in Texas history.—by Randy Lee Loftis and Elizabeth Souder, The Dallas Morning News

Waco Trib names 16 "Difference Makers"

Jim Vaughan might tell you he was just "doing his job" when he led the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce to adopt a long-range master plan, highlighted by a new downtown office building, but it was a lot more. His steady determination, belief that Waco can be more than ever thought possible, and willingness to work long and hard go above and beyond just doing a job.

Note: I appreciate being recognized, but I will accept the award in the name of our Chamber's outstanding volunteer leaders and staff. —Jim Vaughan

A new Peachtree for $1 billion

More than 50 years after streetcars vanished from Atlanta, a group of business and civic leaders have a $1 billion, 20-year plan to bring them back along a dramatically revitalized Peachtree Street corridor.

Unveiled Tuesday, the recommendation envisions an overhaul of the city's signature thoroughfare to include new sidewalks and bicycle lanes, improved lighting and landscaping, buried utility lines and a string of small parks and plazas, about one every quarter-mile. The plan, which is being fine-tuned, would be financed in part with new taxes on property owners along the street.—by Paul Donsky and Maria Saporta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Austin is also capital of construction

After boom and bust cycles, Greater Austin Chamber was determined to make sure the good times lasted. In 2004, the Chamber started a five-year plan to make the economy more diverse. —by Kristina Shevory, The New York Times