WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Environmental and energy groups, including the association that represents almost 70 percent of the country's utilities, made their pitch to Congress before year's end as talks accelerated about the stimulus package being crafted by the incoming administration.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- State-funded grants and loans for recycling and pollution prevention projects have been put on hold in Indiana, and New York could face a large reduction in its Environmental Protection Fund.

-- In a year when the economy was all the business world could talk about, our readers dug in deep to stories about creating change, overhauling the ways business gets done, and yes, how going green can save big money.

SALEM, Ore. and OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A new "E-Cycling" program passed into law in Oregon and Washington takes effect on New Year's Day, requiring electronics manufacturers to recycled old hardware, and promising to spur the growth of responsible e-waste disposal.

Oakland, Calif. -- The drive to create communities that balance environmental, economic and social responsibilities through planned development is growing as shown by projects in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee.

-- In December 2008, GreenBiz.com Executive Editor Joel Makower talked with IBM Corporation's Rich Lechner, Vice President of Energy & Environment, and John Kennedy, Vice President of Integrated Marketing Communications, about the company's "Smarter Planet" advertising campaign.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Twenty grants are being given to increase the amount and quality of recycled materials, create jobs and provide more recycled-content products and packaging.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Companies and coalitions big and not-so-big have made the ranks of most notorious "green" campaigns in the year-end list from National Public Radio's Greenwash Brigade.

BOSTON, Mass. -- The Harvard University Extension School is offering a popular course on strategies for environmental management via distance learning.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Research released by the National Restaurant Association shows that Americans are looking for healthier options and "greener" restaurants when they dine out, in addition to an increased interest in value and convenience.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- Government buildings in England and Wales emit more than 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, more than the entire country of Kenya, the Guardian reports.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Environmental and agriculture groups, growers and some of the world's biggest food buyers -- Wal-Mart, Sysco and Sodexo among them -- have developed a new coalition to incorporate sustainability from the field to the table for specialty crops.

Columbus, Ohio -- The state of Ohio is launching an advanced energy masters degree program in a bid to train the next generation of highly-skilled, green collar workers. Meanwhile, Butte College in Northern California is adding green building courses after receiving a grant from the National Science Foundation.