Monthly Archives: September 2005

Questions about DayStar Technologies

I received an e-mail from a reader that had questions about holding DSTI. I had some concerns about DSTI. I was wondering if you still believe investment in this company or alternative energy stocks is worth it. If crude oil drops further (let say mid 50s) do you think it will have negative impact on alternative energy stocks particularly ENER and DSTI. I was very happy with the holding a couple days ago, but the performance of DSTI in last 2 days without any news has got me concerned. Let me answer your question with first a...

Distributed Energy Systems profile on Forbes.com

Distributed Energy Systems Corp (DESC) has been profiled on Forbes.com. Kenneth Reid, editor of Spear's Security Industry Analyst, recommends buying shares of Distributed Energy Systems. The Wallingford, Conn.-based company creates and delivers a variety of products for the alternative and decentralized energy markets.. . .The story of Distributed Energy and other alternative-energy players is a long-term one, say bulls like Reid. With the surge in oil prices this year, the story is resonating with investors. Distributed Energy shares are up 333% in the past year, trading around $8 after hitting a 52-week (intraday) high of $8.09 on Sept....

California Approves Renewal of Wind Farm Permits

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved renewal permits held by wind power companies like FPL Group Inc (FPL), and other wind generators to produce electricity at the 584-megawatt Altamont Pass wind farm, one of the world's largest wind energy centers. One key stipulation for the renewal is that the wind power companies need to replace over 5,000 windmills over the next 13 years with 500 more efficient turbines with high blades that spin above the birds' flight paths. This may seem like a win for the wind farm utilities, but it comes with a price....

Electro Energy Delivers Silent Watch Battery System

Electro Energy Inc (EEEI) announced the delivery of a Bipolar Battery System to the U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM), to be tested and demonstrated under the Silent Watch Program. The EEEI bipolar battery system was built under the Company's contract with the U.S. Army Manufacturing Technology (Mantech) Program. The EEEI system, comprised of three 1kW modules, could be operated individually or as a complete system with a 3kW power capability, which would provide on-board vehicle electrical power to operate in Silent Watch Mode for three hours compared to the existing lead acid capability of 45 minutes....

Shares of IDA Corp. Purchased

The fears of Rita have fallen away and the market is finally moving to the upside again this morning. I have been watching IdaTech (IDA) for purchase for a couple of weeks and I had previously mentioned I have been looking for a good entry point on this stock. IDAcorp is an Idaho power utility with electrical generation using Hydro, Natural Gas, and Coal. They also own IDATech which manufactures fuel cell solutions. I'm waiting on this one until the technical picture of the chart improves. I would be a buyer if we can either get...

Updates to “should I invest now?”

The more you search, the more you find. Actually right now everyone is asking the question, should I be investing in alternative energy stocks? This is because of the renewed level of intrest brought on by higher gas prices and additional external forces like Katrina and Rita. As I stated in the past, you need to be careful during times like these. If your a trader, than feel free to play as much as you want. MarketWatch had an article yesterday where they interview Rob Wilder the creator of the WilderHill Clean Energy index. Fuel to...

The Katrina/Rita Affect on Stocks

A reader recently submitted the following comment that I felt would be ideal to talk about here. I am wondering if you have any opinions (hopefully informed ones) about how Katrina, and now Rita, have/will affect PBW's profitability in the near and/or long term? I'm thinking of moving a few thousand I currently have in US savings bonds into a green energy fund. I can't address whether you should or shouldn't invest your money into PBW since every person has a specific tolerance to risk and I'm not a registered investment advisor. What I...

Barron’s Report on Silicon Shortage

Tyler Hamilton over at Clean Break has an excellent summary of the Barron's article on the State of the Solar PV market. A couple of interesting points made in the story, based on data from analysts:Within 10 years solar PV technology will be in cost parity with retail electricity prices.About $100 million (U.S.) has been invested in solar-related ventures in the first half of 2005.Shares of publicly traded solar-focused companies have jumped 150 per cent over the past 12 months.By 2010 solar power production is expected to quadruple to 6 gigawatts worldwide. During the time, the market will...

Shares in Active Power Purchased

I currently don't have time to do a complete writeup on this stock, but wanted to let everyone know that I purchased shares in Active Power Inc (ACPW) this afternoon for both my personal portfolio and the mutual fund. The average price was at $3.77. I will updated this post later this afternoon with more details. Updated at 10:00 PM As I mentioned above I purchased shares in Active Power Inc (ACPW) this afternoon for both the mutual fund and my personal portfolio. Active Power designs and sells battery-free uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems....

Shares of Capstone Down over 11%

Capstone Turbine Corp (CPTC) shares closed the day with a loss of 11.38%. The company said it may end its OEM partnership agreement for its microturbine products with UTC Power LLC (United Technologies UTX.) From MarketWatch: Capstone cited certain breaches, including UTC's failure to meet its sales targets for the year, as reason for the potential termination of their OEM deal. Capstone said it has notified UTC that it has 90 calendar days to cure the breaches. The first question that you may ask is, why would this affect Capstone? The first way to answer...

Shares of Hoku Scientific on Fire

Hoku Scientific, Inc. (HOKU) is a recent addition to my stock watchlist. HOKU designs and manufactures membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and nonfluorinated membranes for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Basically they are developing the next generation of proton exchange membranes. They have strategic relationships with Sanyo Electric and Nissan Motors and are based in Hawaii. The company received some good news from some financial analysts this week and the company is up over 50% in the last two days. Piper Jaffray analyst Jesse Pichel said Hoku is one of the best-positioned component suppliers to the emerging...

Shares in FPL and Calpine Purchased

This morning I purchased shares for the mutual fund in two large utility companies that both have extensive research and power generation via renewable energy. FPL Group Inc (FPL) is an electric utility that is primarily based in the South East. This company owns Florida Power and Light and has been in much of the recent news due to hurricane Katrina. FPL also owns FPL Energy which is a division that provides wholesale electric power that is generated from Natural Gas, Wind, Solar, Hydro, and Nuclear. They currently produce more Wind generated power than any company in the...

Iluminated LED Bathtub

This has nothing to do with energy efficiency or anything else pertaining to this website. But while doing some additional research on LED's this morning I stumbled onto this amazing use of LED technology. These are manufactured by Generate and they have several LED based products for the home. (Thanks to Strange New Products)

Energy Efficiency with Solid State Lighting (LED)

As I mentioned in a previous post (and also a purchase of LSGP.ob), I have become very interested in the potential investment opportunities in companies that are involved in the conversion of typical halogen and incandescent lighting over to solid state lighting (i.e. LED.) With that said, I wanted to pull back the curtain to show you my process and thinking when I enter a new investment space. The potential returns for the companies in this space can be quite large over the next 10 years. Many municipalities and large corporations are looking at the potential...

EERE Launches its Financial Opportunities Web Site

The DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has launched a new Web site that lists opportunities for financial assistance. In fiscal year 2004 alone, EERE awarded approximately $506 million in financial assistance. So if your thinking of getting into the Alternative Energy business, or have an idea that only needs some financial backing, you may want to take a look at the EERE Financial Opportunities Web site and here is a listing of the current related solicitations.

Siemens to build 600 MW of wind turbines for FPL

FPL Group Inc (FPL) places order from Siemens to build wind turbines for FPL. They expect to install the new turbines in 2006.
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