The great thing about our economy and its entrepreneurs is that you don't just complain about a problem—you try to fix it. With growing concerns about the environment and consumers increasingly going green, businesses have overwhelmingly responded with eco-friendly products and services. Three of the most interesting green business stories this year came out of Tesla Motors, Southern California Edison, and Kip Nash of Boulder, Colorado. Over the next day, we'll roll out our take on what makes these businesses such successes in what's becoming a highly-competitive market—starting with Tesla.

With rising fuel costs and concerns over carbon emissions, the demand for eco-friendly cars has skyrocketed. But the main issue with many of the cars that have come to market (and subsequently failed) is that they simply aren't viable alternatives to fuel-driven vehicles. Most electric cars are puny and gutless, hydrogen cars are a logistical nightmare (where the hell am I going to refuel?), and bio-fuel isn't as eco-friendly as it was once thought, with Brazilians tearing down their rain forests to grow corn for ethanol.

This year though, Tesla Motors stepped up with an electric super car—albeit with a super (expensive) pricetag. The 2008 Tesla Roadster is a 100% electric car that boasts 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, 220 miles per charge, and an operating equivalent to 135 mpg, or less than 2 cents per mile. This car handily debunks the idea that electric cars are gutless wonders with no range. Modeling its flagship dealership after Apple stores, Tesla is quickly becoming the car of LA's earth-conscious elite.