Modern economies are in trouble without substantial green technology investment; Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas announces big profits and another U.S. production facility; and a report hints that carbon sequestration may be more difficult than previously imagined. It’s the Saturday edition of The Daily Five.

Only Greentech Can Save U.S. Economy, Says Über-Investor: Michael Novogratz is no crackpot. He’s president of the Fortress Investment Group, and one of America’s richest people. He also thinks gasoline will be $10 a gallon before we know it, and high energy pricess will tank the U.S. economy. Novogratz’ do-or-die solution: lots of CleanTech, and quickly. Upside: a cleaner and greener America. Eventually. (Wired)

Swift Enterprises Introduces Synthetic Hydrocarbon General Aviation Fuel from Biomass: The idea of a plug-in passenger plane doesn’t sound too practical, does it? The race is on to find a successor for conventional jet fuel. Swift Enterprises Ltd. is showing off a synthetic aviation fuel produced from biomass: SwiftFuel. The company says it’s cleaner and packs more energy per gallon that petroleum-based fuel. Best of all, the non-food biofuel should cost less to produce than its conventional equivalent. (Green Car Congress)

A Big Week for Vestas Wind Systems: The windpower industry is roaring ahead, and few companies are enjoying as much success in the field as Danish turbine giant Vestas Wind Systems. The company reported a 94 percent jump in first quarter earnings this year compared to 2007. Now Vestas has announced it will begin building turbine towers in the heart of its biggest market: the United States. The Colorado plant will employ about a thousand green collar workers. (CleanTechnica)

Smart Home: Green + Wired Debuts at MSI: Jetson Green has photos and a description of a striking new modern home project at Chicago’s Luseum of Science and Industry. Unlike a lot of concept homes, the emphasis of the showcase project is livability. Its obvious comfort and style aside, the mkSolaire plan home features a state-of-the-art list of energy and resource-saving features. (Jetson Green)

Is carbon storage just a pipe dream?: A paper published at Linkoping University’s Department of Technology and Social Change in Sweden this week raises serious concerns about the viability of carbon dioxide sequestration. Researcher Anders Hansson says the potential risks and technical difficulties of the concept are being widely overlooked. The study underlines a statement issued by Greenpeace days earlier dismissing CO2 storage as a “scam” and “dubious technology.” (CNET News)

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