Energy's economic impact is clear.

Worldwide growth indicates $3 trillion industry ahead

Although the issue of how much "digital effect" there is on energy usage is still open to debate, there's no question that economy, technology and electricity are now irrevocably linked.

According to the report Digital Planet 2000: The Global Information Economy, compiled by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance, the worldwide information, communications and technology market surpassed $2 trillion in 1999.

With growth continuing at a rate of 9 percent, expectations are that the industry will "smash through the $3 trillion threshold" in the next few years.

According to …