The Christian Science Monitor’s print weekly takes an in-depth look at the ongoing green revolution in a “Future of Energy” special issue.

Once again, Jimmy Carter comes off as a sage: Carter was the first president to install solar panels on the White House, only to have them torn off by a skeptical Ronald Reagan. (Carter’s more environmentally conscious successor, Barack Obama, plans to have them reinstalled by spring.)

The cover package explores the pros and cons of replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources in a series of short, provocative pieces. Take-home points: the US will have to pursue a “diverse mix of renewables,” as wind, solar, and other new energy sources won’t replace oil overnight; there are lots of big-payoff conservation measures that the country has yet to tap into; and among the renewable options, solar holds the greatest promise.

Other highlights of the special issue:

  • Energy innovation and jobs could be unleashed by implementing a fee and rebate system to curb fossil fuel usage while putting money back into Americans’ pockets.

In other energy and environment news, the long-troubled coal-and oil-burning Salem Harbor power plant could be moving toward a shutdown, says the Boston Globe.

The Boston Herald reports that Secretary of Energy and Environment Ian Bowles is warning that a “Soviet-style” upgrade of the nation’s electric grid could result in Massachusetts ratepayers subsidizing work outside New England.

Evergreen Solar says talk of jobs moving to China is premature, according to The Lowell Sun.

The Atlantic does some math, finds that voters didn’t really care about that scary climate change legislation that didn’t happen, however, they were mad as anything about health care.

Health care

Local leaders continue to sound the alarm over health care costs, saying more control over municipal costs is the single most important thing that could help them manage their budgets.  State House News Service via Boston Globe.

Municipal affairs

The Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise reports that Lunenburg’s FY 2011 budget deficit is $2.7 million and could reach $4.17 million by 2016.

Mayor Lisa Wong talks tough, gets results: Fitchburg police agree on a 1-year contract with 1 percent raise, according to the Sentinel.

Methuen gets $1.1 million windfall as a Caritas Christi facility goes on tax rolls, the Eagle-Tribune says.

Some residents of Quincy public housing have been without heat for a year or longer and now they’re caught in the middle of a bureaucratic battle between state regulators and the Quincy Housing Authority, according to The Patriot Ledger.

Education

Massachusetts leads the nation in math scores, but badly lags other countries in turning out high-achieving math whizzes, say authors of a new study.

Education Week reports on a grim report from the Council of the Great City Schools on achievement among black males.

The state board of education freezes $140,000 owed a Gloucester charter school until after a December review, The Gloucester Times reports.

Massachusetts politics

Politico sees Sen. Scott Brown as “a dead man walking” after last Tuesday’s Democratic landslide in the Bay State.

The “year of the woman” in politics, at least in Massachusetts, wasn’t, reports the Globe.

The Globe’s Brian McGrory says erstwhile Nancy Pelosi loyalist Mike Capuano isn’t the sort of guy you want on your team.

New England politics

The National Journal hears that Democrats are making overtures to Sen. Olympia Snowe, the Maine Republican. A switch didn’t work out so well, however, for Sen. Arlen Specter, the former Pennsylvania Republican turned Democrat who didn’t make it through the 2010 primary season.

Game theory

States are looking to boost interest in hunting, according to Governing magazine.