GE’s Mark Vachon: “Gas is massive”
Marc Gunther How’s GE’s ecomagination going? I put that question today to Mark Vachon, who is vice president for ecomagination at General Electric (GE). He replied by talking about natural gas. “The large macro trend of gas is massive,” he said. “Our oil and gas business will be a huge beneficiary.” An abundance of shale gas in the U.S., and methane gas reserves in Australia present a wealth of opportunities for GE, which plays all along the supply chain for natural gas. “We’re a massive player in gas exploration,” Mark said. “We have a water business that can deal...
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Five Last Minute Gifts For The Environmental Anti-Materialist
What do you get for the person who hates stuff?
My family has this problem every year. As a somewhat rabid environmentalist, I think of stuff as part of the problem. I'm not a big fan of clutter, either. So I always have mixed feelings when I receive gifts. No matter how useful, I can't help but thinking about all the resources that were used to make it. Not to mention wondering where I'm going to put it.
You may have someone in your family who feels the same way, for whatever reason. Here are five of the best gifts I've...
AltEnergy ETF Shares to start trading on Feb 4.
The new Alternative Energy ETF, which will be managed by PowerShares Capital Management, will track the WilderHill Clean Energy Index, a benchmark calculated by the Amex that was launched in August. The Amex collaborated with index provider WilderShares, LLC in developing the index. It will start trading on the AMEX on February 4th. The index contains 37 companies that use greener and renewable energy alternatives such as wind, solar, and hydrogen fuel cells. I'm searching for a ticker and will post it once I can find it. Post a comment if you find it before I do.
Princeton’s Plasma Physics Laboratory to lead U.S. fusion research project
The U.S. Department of Energy chose Princeton's Plasma Physics Laboratory to lead the United States' participation in an international fusion energy project known as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). "We wanted to do it because it gives us an intellectual role in planning this experiment and making sure it succeeds," said Robert Goldston GS '77, director of the plasma physics lab. "This is very important for the future of fusion energy." In what Goldston described as an "amazing step" towards the development of nuclear fusion, ITER aims to construct the first device capable of producing self-sustaining...
Hasbro: Super Heroes Go ‘Green’
Captain Marvel will arrive in a plant-based box if toy manufacturer Hasbro, Inc. (HAS: NYSE)carries out its plans. A year ago the toy maker pledged to use plant-based PET (polythylene terephthalate) or BioPET for at least 30% of the blister packs and plastic windows used to ship and display everyone’s favorite super heroes. This is not the first of Hasbro’s attempts at more responsible packaging. By 2015, the company was using recycled and sustainably sourced paper for 90% of its packaging and in-box content. Additionally, by 2016, Hasbro had already begun using recycled PET, eliminating the use of additional fossil fuels and removing plastic...
A Brief Hiatus
I have been on a brief hiatus from posting to the website. My other projects and real job have been taking a large portion of my time. I was also recently down two employees at my company, so I was doing triple the amount of my normal work. I’m making an offer to one person today so I'm able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will be trying to catch up on many of the missed press releases today. I will also be switching the intra day graphic to the new Alternative Energy ETF...
Investing In Water Desalination
By Jeff Siegel The million-dollar manicured lawns of Montecito, CA have withered, died, and gone to seed. The polo fields are little more than dust now, and many have traded the good china for paper plates so as to avoid using the dishwasher. There’s no doubt about it Mother Nature doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, black or white, fat or skinny. When she lays the smack down, we all feel it. And there is no better example of this than the debilitating drought that’s wringing the Golden State dry. Of course, for those who can afford...
Graphene Nanoplatlets
Applied Graphene Materials (AGM: LSE) has developed a process for high-volume production of graphene nanoplatelets or ‘stacks of two-dimensional graphene sheets that can be used in coatings, composites and polymers. The attributes of nanoplatelets are not as impressive as the single layer of carbon atoms that scientists work with on their laboratory benches. However, nanoplatelets ‘play’ better than single atoms, dispersing more easily into other materials. Applied’s management says the promise of graphene is better achieved by being practical in transferring its characteristics to other high value materials.
Applied’s graphene nanoplatelets are used in a range of products: paints, coatings, polymers, composites, thermal pastes, and lubricants. In...
Water Treatment Stocks
by Debra Fiakas CFA In a game of word association many investors might respond Veolia Environmental SA (VIE: P or VEOEY: OTC/PK) at the mention ‘water reclamation.’ General Electric (GE: NYSE) and Siemens (SIE: DE or SIEGY: OTC/PK) might be next choices. These three companies have been ‘go to’ sources for water treatment by municipalities and industry. Indeed, it may take a behemoth to address water issues. In January 2015, the World Economic Forum declared water as the number one crisis impacting the world, recognizing the dire circumstances of water supplies. Over 660 million people - one...
Six Tips for CFA Candidates
I just finished the third (of three) Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams. I believe I passed, (results will not be available until September.) I've taken more than my share of tests in my life, and these three exams have been the three hardest. I decided to publish my advice for others becoming CFA Candidates because 1) my partner at Alternative Energy Stocks, Charles Morand has just become a CFA Candidate (he'll take the first exam in December), and 2) there is little advice available online. VI. Buy two of your chosen model of calculator The reason for this is...
PowerShares to Launch Water Resources ETF
PowerShares (the maintainers of the Alternative Energy ETF) are coming out with a new exchange traded fund that focuses on a Water Resources Portfolio. The PowerShares Water Resources Portfolio is based on the Palisades Water Indexâ„¢. The objective of the Palisades Water Indexâ„¢ is to capture the substantial economic value of water that will inevitably be unlocked as the global population adjusts to the linkage between human health, economic development and resource sustainability. This new ETF is set to launch sometime in December and is expected to trade with the ticker symbol PHO. While this EFT...
How to Build Your Sustainable Portfolio
Rona Fried at SustainableBusiness.com has written a good article on how to get started on building a Green portfolio.
Ch Ch Ch Changes…
As you can see the site is starting to show some of the changes I have planned. First off, there is a slight redesign of the website to take advantage of some new features available from the newest release of MovableType. If you currently run a blog with MT I highly recommend the upgrade. If you want to get into the world of blogging, feel free to drop me a line and I can give you some links/advice. I have updated the stocks list and refreshed some of the listings. You may also notice that there is...
Producing Graphene Materials
Build up of the graphene materials industry has progressed a bit more slowly than originally expected a decade ago as scientists and engineers peered through their electron microscopes at single atoms of carbon and counted their many attributes. At the time the potential to improve performance in end products like metal alloys and electronics seemed limitless. Unfortunately, reality has not imitated early dreams. Those companies that have brought graphene to the commercial market will attest to the challenges of jumping off the laboratory bench and into a factory.
Even more frustrating is the sourcing of graphene to use in research, product development and...
Greystone Logistics: Recycled Plastic Pallets
by Debra Fiakas, CFA
Last month Greystone Logistics (GLGI: OTC/PK) announced a new purchase order valued at $6.8 million to supply recycled plastic pallets to a national food and agribusiness company. The order requires the fledgling Greystone to manufacture and deliver an unspecified number of the company’s proprietary plastic shipping pallets. Whatever the number, the contract promises a big shift in Greystone’s prospects given that the contract value represents 9% of total sales in the fiscal year.
It seems Greystone is gaining visibility in the logistics supply chain. However, trading at less than a buck a share its stock seems to not have yet registered on the...
