The Alt Energy Stocks Blog
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Solar Headwinds, Part I
How Solar PV is like Ethanol
Tom Konrad, CFAHigh levels of competition in the the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry mean that buy-and-hold investors should look elsewhere.
In May 2007, I published a competitive analysis of the corn Ethanol industry based on Michael Porter's classic Five...
Vehicle Electrification ? a Bird in the Hand
John PetersenSince I'm frequently chastised for holding old fashioned views when it comes to vehicle electrification, I'll start this article by quoting one of the oldest known versions of a common English proverb, "A byrd in hand - is worth ten flye at large." While this theme is not always...
Green Energy Investing For Beginners: How Many Stocks Should You Own?
Tom Konrad, CFA
In stock portfolios, deciding how many stocks to own involves weighing a trade off. A smaller portfolio can be built (and sold) with fewer commissions, and also requires less time to research. On the other hand, a portfolio with fewer stocks will gain fewer...
Will Surging Smart Grid Investments Result in Surging Electric Prices?
John PetersenThe electric power system in the U.S. is dirty, antiquated, stupid, unstable, and a security nightmare. After years of discussion and debate, consensus now holds that the generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure will need hundreds of billions in new investment to...
2010: The Year of the Strong Grid? Part VI: Will the Real Strong Grid Companies Please Stand Up?
Tom Konrad, CFAFor clean electricity to flourish, the electric grid needs not only to be smarter, but more robust. This is where my strong grid stocks come in. But stringing wires for power is a lot like stringing wires for telecommunications as well a large number of other businesses...
What?s the Stock Play in Wake of the Over-hyped Story About Fuel Cell Developer Bloom Energy?
Bill Paul
Having been a Wall Street Journal energy and environment reporter, one of the first experts I would have called before running a story on privately-held solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) developer Bloom Energy would have been Neal Dikeman, who in addition to being a prominent alternative...
How Aggregation Will Destroy Niche Markets for Smart Grid Energy Storage
John PetersenLast week I introduced a new study titled "Energy Storage for the Electricity Grid: Benefits and Potential Market Assessment" that was commissioned by the DOE's Energy Storage Systems Program, identified seventeen discrete storage applications for the electricity grid, discussed the...
California Legislature to Consider Storage Portfolio Standards
John PetersenThe California Energy Storage Alliance just issued a press release that describes new legislation to require utilities to incorporate energy storage in their distribution networks. The rules will mandate storage equal to 2.25% of daytime peak power by 2014 and 5% of daytime peak...
2010: The Year of the Strong Grid? Part V: Hubbell Inc.
Tom Konrad, CFAHubbell Inc. (HUB-B) is a strong grid stock that also has strong financials, signaled by a recent dividend increase.
I came across Hubbell Inc. (HUB-B) when researching General Cable (BGC) for my recent article on the company. Just one more example of when you start...
Grid-Based Energy Storage; A $200 Billion Opportunity
John PetersenYesterday a reader sent me a copy of an exhaustive new study titled "Energy Storage for the Electricity Grid: Benefits and Market Potential Assessment Guide" that was commissioned by the DOE's Energy Storage Systems Program and prepared by Jim Eyer and Garth Corey. I've been...
Why I Don't Expect A Lithium-Ion Battery Glut
John PetersenIt's no secret that I think plug-in electric vehicles are unconscionable waste and pollution masquerading as conservation. To support my opinions, I've published an easy to follow Excel spreadsheet that shows why plug-ins are 5x to 6x less effective than HEVs when it comes to...
Pure Technologies: Making Water Systems More Efficient
Tom Konrad, CFAA reader caught my attention with his description of Pure Technologies (PUR.V, PPEHF.PK), a company that can find leaks in water systems without shutting down the system. Since I was intrigued, I thought my readers might be as well. Here's what he has to say. ...
Beijing Cramps Foreign Offshore Wind Developers, Giving Boost to Domestic Firms
Bill Paul
As reported last week by...
2010: The Year of the Strong Grid? Part IV: General Cable
Tom Konrad, CFAGeneral Cable (BGC) is a strong grid stock that's suddenly looking a lot cheaper. Time to buy?
General Cable is not only one of my Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2010, it was also holding it's own in my list of "strong grid" (that is, electricity transmission) stocks that have...
Why You Should Not Join a Portec Rail Products (PRPX) Class Action Lawsuit
Tom Konrad, CFAPortec Rail Products (PRPX) agreed to be acquired by L. B. Foster Company (FSTR) on February 17. At least four law firms have started class action suits against the Portec board. Here is why not to join any of them.
Portec Rail Products has been a longtime favorite of...