Nick Hodge - Angel Publishing

The Difference Between News and Ideas

Welcome to the Green Chip Review Weekend Edition — our insights from the week in everything alternative and cleantech, as well as links to our most-read Green Chip Review and sister publication articles.

I was writing an article this week about the history and development of the Green Chip websites, when I realized something few people may know...

We've been covering the green side of the market longer than anyone else.

Since before First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) and Suntech (NYSE: STP) were publicly traded...

Before an Inconvenient Truth finished filming...

Before terms like smart grid and cleantech were even coined...

We were giving green stock advice before wind turbines graced the plains, and certainly before CNBC and Bloomberg were quick to jump on the latest solar news.

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The Difference Between News and Ideas

Sometimes, I get frustrated when I put together these weekly news round-ups for you.

You see, many of the topics that are "news" now, we covered months — and sometimes years — ago... when they were merely ideas.

Take the Chinese cleantech boom, for example, which we've been touting since 2007. Back then, we told readers that China would be a clean energy force to reckon with, that their solar companies could produce at lower costs, that their non-democratic government could fast-track project with minimal bureaucratic red tape.

As such, many of our readers have profited handsomely from our Chinese cleantech picks like JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO), Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL), Hong Kong Highpower (NASDAQ: HPJ), and plenty of others.

But only lately, as the hindsight data is revealed, has the mainstream media jumped on board, with everyone from the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times touting China's cleantech abilities and the United States' laggard position.

It's not "news" until it happened.

But the profits are made while it's happening (... Whatever it is.).

That's the difference between news and ideas.

You read the news. You profit from ideas... and you usually read them here first.

This Week's News (And Our Ideas)

So it's news this week that Japan, South Korea, and China are spending $9 billion on "infrastructure and information technology to make electricity networks more efficient."

It's news, according to Reuters, because Zpryme, a market research firm, compile the data and released a report.

But it's been an idea for the past year, as we constantly reported on the necessity of a smart grid to aid the deployment of renewable resources. Green Chip readers have profited from this idea... others are only now reading the news.

It was also news this week when a Chinese wind turbine maker, A-Power Generation (NASDAQ: APWR), announced it's building a production plant in Nevada. The plant will have an annual capacity of 1,100 megawatts and create 1,000 long-term jobs.

I guess it was only an idea on February 10, when I ran an article entitled, Chinese Cleantech Companies: Made in the USA (by China), in which I specifically mentioned A-Power and their plans for a U.S. plant.

In the month it took for that story to go from a Green Chip idea to mainstream news, the stock has gone up more than 17%.

In other news this week, German solar installer Phoenix Solar (XETRA: PS4) announced it's "expecting business in the ongoing first quarter to be significantly better than in the year-earlier period."

But we've been reporting on the German feed-in tariff cuts since last year, and how that would lead to more installations fueled by Chinese-built panels before the subsidies disappeared, i.e, higher business in the first and second quarters.

And finally, it was news this week that China and India signed up to the Copenhagen Accord for fighting climate change, after being lambasted by politicians and the media alike for stymieing the talks last December.

But we've been reporting on China's and India's ambitious climate energy and energy goals for some time now and how, in many ways, their goals are more ambitious than ours are. In an article entitled The Clean Energy Batter: U.S. vs. China, I reported that China and U.S. actually have similar emissions targets, but China's are official policy while the U.S.'s are simply White House announcements.

So you couldn't have known the real story before it hit the wire.

And that's really the point of Green Chip: To know the market so well that we're ahead of it. And by reading these pages, you are, too.

Our premium services take that one step further, and help you invest in green trends before others know about them.

We help you invest in the ideas that will be profitable when they become news.

You can read this week's ideas below.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

How to Rebuild America: The New Road to Energy Sustainability
In his report "How to Rebuild America," Editor Chris Nelder writes a letter to Congress on behalf of the American people, asking for a real energy plan...

A Game-Changer for Nuclear: The Most Profitable Advancement in Half a Century
Green Chip reveals the readers the news of a discovery... still under the radar... that could prove to be the greatest advancement to the world's energy crisis in 50 years! This company has the worldwide monopoly on this "a monster metal." Find out why you should buy this stock while it's still selling for less than 20 cents...

Birth of the Supergrid: 9 Nations and 20 Companies Plan Europe's Clean Power Future
Editor Sam Hopkins uncovers the investing opportunities in burgeoning plans to develop a pan-European power grid.

The Global Energy Race: The Countries Keeping Their Energy Dollars
Energy & Capital Editor Nick Hodge discusses the battle plan of developing countries in today's energy war...

Renewable Energy Capacities by Country: An At-a-Glance Look at Wind, Solar, Geothermal, and Biofuel Energy Resources
Guest Contributor Hilary Stingley discusses Colorado's new renewable portfolio standard.

The Profitable Stocks behind Cash for Caulkers: How to Profit from Cash for Caulkers Investments
Green Chip Editor Jeff Siegel highlights opportunities in energy efficiency and green building.

Investing in Africa with ETFs: Globe-leading Growth Stuns Even the IMF
International Editor Sam Hopkins highlights several plays on Africa's world-leading growth in 2010.

New Green ATF Seizes Canadian Power Grid: A $30 Mil Market Created Overnight
Green Chip Review reports on the ambitious plans by our neighbors to the north as BC Energy Plan outlines 55 green policy actions to be executed between now and 2016 — and how readers can make money with the planned economy that pays you. But hurry... only seven days remain to claim 171% gains.

The Global Energy Race

There's an energy war going on... and it's been raging for decades.

The Middle East, North Africa, Ex-Soviet States... all have witnessed turmoil because of their massive energy reserves.

And in each of those regions — amid the turmoil — fortunes have been made.

From the oilfields of Iraq to the gas fields in the former U.S.S.R., billions have changed hands as nations jostled for energy supplies to fuel growing economies.

Now though, the global picture is changing...

Developing countries are entering the race for energy and the destination of the finish line is constantly changing.

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The Global Energy Race

For the past three decades, only a handful of developed nations were competing for large shares of fossil energy reserves.

The United States, Europe, and Japan, for the most part, had no trouble dominating other countries in the quest to secure oil and gas to fuel their world-leading GDPs.

But things have started to change in the past few years...

Brazil, Russia, India and China — the so-called BRIC nations — have emerged as great forces in the global economy. And as their economies grew, so did their thirst for cheap energy.

You've probably seen some of the headlines that have resulted.

China's been cozying up to nations that have what can still be considered hefty oil reserves. India's boosting its nuclear capabilities. Brazil has leveraged its sugar crop to get more than 50% of its liquid fuel from ethanol.

Indeed, these growing nations have been doing all they can to secure their energy future. And if there's one thing they're all realizing, it's that future energy needs to be generated domestically — not imported from other nations.

This has led to new ambitions in the world's developing economies. And if we don't take note, we could quickly see ourselves falling behind not only in the pursuit for energy, but in the pursuit for global status.

Keeping Energy Dollars

Take China, for example: This is a country that has taken the energy market by complete surprise.

After failing to develop robust automotive and computer markets, China was viewed as a technology laggard. Great at production, yes; but lagging with regard to capacity for innovation.

But their thirst for energy changed all that...

China has been very serious about planning its energy future. And they're dead set on making sure the energy comes from its own soil.

You see, not paying for imported energy keeps those billions of dollars in the country. In fact, it boosts the economy because new energy sources are being developed domestically, spurring spending and creating jobs.

It's a lesson the West is slowly learning — some of us slower than others. But it's a very important lesson, because every dollar we spend on imported energy is a dollar out of our economy and in someone else's.

China's intent on not falling into that trap.

They've created what BusinessWeek calls a "Super Ministry": the National Energy Commission, which will create and enforce new energy policies.

Some of these measures may seem extreme. But not only are they necessary; they're creating a lot of wealth.

One of China's most recent laws, for example, requires that utilities buy all the power produced by renewable energy generators. Unlike the U.S., that means developers don't have to worry about finding an end market for their power. If a Chinese company builds a wind or solar farm, there is a guaranteed market for their product.

According to China's State Council, "Power enterprises refusing to buy power produced by renewable energy generators will be fined up to an amount double that of the economic loss of the renewable energy company."

What's more, the country is on target to meets its recently announced requirement of getting 15% of its energy from renewables by 2020. The U.S. doesn't even have such a target and would be hard-pressed to meet one of that caliber if it tried...

And the Chinese government has already pledged $217 billion over the next five years to ensure their country emerges as an economic and energy leader, with plans for a $650 billion investment over the next decade.

The U.S. pledged about $80 billion to cleantech in the recent stimulus, but only a fraction of it has been spent. Meanwhile, we gladly spend well over $500 billion annually on imported oil.

It's not hard to see who will be keeping their energy dollars in the new millennium.

The Investment Angle

So what's the investment angle? It couldn't be any clearer.

Invest in companies with leading clean technologies doing business in countries with progressive energy policies.

It sounds easy enough, but you'd be surprised at the number of people that just don't grasp the concept. But here's the proof...

Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK), and Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) are unequivocal leaders of the oil, natural gas, and coal industries, respectively.

Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) and China Wind Systems (NASDAQ: CWS) are leaders in their namesake industries in China.

Here's how they stacked up against each other over the past year:

That's the difference between the new energy economy and the old; between the status quo and the profit potential of new solutions.

Yes, we'll still need coal, gas, and oil for some time to come. And that's why stocks like Peabody and Chesapeake nearly doubled over the past year.

But a time is coming when those energy sources will be supplanted. As that happens, well-positioned clean energy companies will continue to deliver 1,000% plus annual returns.

The countries that transition first will emerge as the most powerful.

The energy companies making it happen will be the most profitable.

And the investors that react the earliest will pocket the most money.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

P.S. China's ambitious energy goals have allowed cleantech companies operating there to make early investors a fortune. And while we've been slow to respond, our neighbors to the north are moving much more swiftly and aggressively. They've created a government agency called the Energy ATF — similar to our ATF, FBI, and CIA — that has just one mission: to systematically eradicate all sources of coal and oil powered energy.

And a few companies — detailed in this report — will be paid billions to replace old generation sources with clean ones. The 1,000% gains seen in China will surely be repeated. This time, you can read about the companies before they make other investors rich...

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Why We Have Been and Will Continue to Be Bullish on Chinese Solar Firms

As always, it was a busy week for cleantech news. But above all else, we finally got a week that looked like this for nearly all green sectors:

Industries represented in that chart include wind, water, solar and smart grid — each up 10% or more for the week buoyed mostly by news originating outside the United States.

Over the past few months, we couldn't have made clearer how bullish we are on Chinese solar firms. We laid out the reasons time and time again... German subsidy cuts pushing first half demand; falling polysilicon costs; high volume on shipment to multiple markets.

Lazard Capital joined the party this week, with one of its analysts saying, "We expect strong 4Q09 earnings across our coverage universe, driven by potential for higher shipments resulting from the demand pull in Germany, along with modestly lower pricing and declining silicon costs." Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ), Renesola (NYSE: SOL), and Yingli (NYSE: YGE) were mentioned by name.

You can see how Canadian Solar did this week in the chart above. Yingli reports on Monday morning. We're expecting good performance from the entire group for at least the first half of the year.

This week, Germany made official its solar subsidy cuts, giving some firm guidance to the industry and probably creating a bit more business from China for those waiting for the official announcement.

And China had some news of its own...

Environment Minister Pan Yue said the country is studying ways to implement a new carbon tax.

Battery-maker BYD (HK: 1211) partnered with Daimler (NYSE: DAI) to jointly develop an electric vehicle for the Chinese market.

And the head of China's National Energy Administration told China Daily his office has drafted a 10-year plan calling for 15% renewable by 2020. (I shouldn't have to remind you that the U.S. still has no national policy for renewable energy integration.)

Our Most Profitable Mistake of 2010

We don't mind owning up when we're wrong.

But this time, the mistake we made... is making our readers a killing.

You see, when we first published reports on the amount of oil in the domestic Bakken formation, we were working with figures of about 4.35 billion barrels.

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Some brutally honest declarations followed here in the States...

John Doerr, the billionaire investor behind Kleiner Perkins — the venture capital firm that brought us the Bloom Box — said that China is squarely winning the clean energy race. His message was clear: "My conclusion is China is winning. My conclusion is that we are barely in the race today. China's growth in renewables is astounding. The results of their policies are really staggering."

And during a talk in New York about the Clinton Climate Initiative, the former president noted that "China's support for wind and solar will surpass that of the U.S."

In many ways, it already is. Reuters reported earlier this week:

China grew its market share in the solar industry to nearly 50 percent in the fourth quarter of last year from just 2 percent three years earlier. The United States, on the other hand, went from 43 percent to 16 percent in the same period.

China has also pushed ahead fast in developing wind power. It overtook the United States in new installations and in manufacturing of wind turbines last year, nearly doubling its wind generation capacity from 12,100 megawatts in 2008 to 25,100 megawatts at the end of 2009.

Meanwhile, Congress continued the stalemate on domestic soil. Senator Lindsey Graham declared "cap-and-trade bill in the House and Senate are dead." And Senator John Rockefeller introduced legislation that would delay for two years the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating carbon dioxide emissions.

In ten years, these will be the same guys wondering why we're dependent on Chinese wind turbines and solar panels.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

P.S. In case you missed any of this week's Green Chip articles — along with popular stories from our sister publications — you can catch up on them now...

British Columbia Power Costs to Increase: Canadian Utilities Struggle with Demand Trends
Editor Sam Hopkins sees through the Olympic afterglow to Vancouver's looming power rate increases and energy upheaval.

Pickens Plan — Game Back On: Billionaire Back to Backing Wind
Green Chip Editor Nick Hodge talks about a new Pickens Plan announcement, what it means for the wind industry, and how you can invest.

A Solution to the Coming Energy Crisis?: The Latest News in Nuclear
Short of nuclear fusion — still decades away — this discovery could prove to be the greatest advancement to the world's energy crisis in 50 years! Green Chip reveals the company with the worldwide monopoly on this monster metal — and why you should buy this stock while it's still selling for less than 20 cents.

Residential Solar Installers: Rooftop Solar in for a Boost
Green Chip's Nick Hodge discusses the residential solar boom in California and elsewhere... and the one company poised to take advantage.

Cash for Caulkers: Is It Worth It?
Editor Jeff Siegel takes a look at the new Cash for Caulkers program as President Obama outlines incentives this week in Washington.

Desalination Companies as an Energy Play: The Commodity All Energy Technologies Need
Energy & Capital Editor Nick Hodge exposes water as an overlooked play in the energy space and offers an easy way to start investing.

Pickens Plan: Game Back On

After putting the plan on hold due to transmission issues, T. Boone is once again ready to proceed with the wind portion of his plan for U.S energy independence.

He says he'll disclose the location of a 500 megawatt plant in the next 30 days, though the Dallas Morning News has reported that approximately 300 General Electric (NYSE: GE) turbines are being sent north - to either Canada or Minnesota - for the proposed farm.

Pickens recently told the Wall Street Journal that "economics favor wind power with natural gas prices around $7 per BTU." But with natural gas seemingly in free fall - trading around $4.60 - the billionaire hasn't been pursuing wind as aggressively.

Perhaps his most recent move is a sign the industry is in for a good year. Stimulus funds should continue to be dispersed, and two large farms have already been announced - 845 MW in Oregon and 600 MW in Texas, supplied by GE and A-Power Energy Generation (NASDAQ: APWR), respectively.

If you're looking for broad exposure to the wind industry as it gets back in gear, an ETF like First Trust Global Wind (NYSE: FAN) or Power Shares Global Wind (NASDAQ: PWND) is a great way to go.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

Desalination Companies as an Energy Play

You love investing in energy. You wouldn't be here if you didn't.

And as you know, I love it, too.

I love it because it's crucial for everything we do — and I mean everything: cooking breakfast, taking a shower, turning on the lights, driving to work...

But that's just personal energy use. We rarely think about the energy needed to raise the livestock and grow the vegetables we eat, the energy used to transport them or to make all the goods we use.

That's why energy is such an exciting investment field. There are so many ways to produce it, and so many companies to watch. And it spans the entire globe.

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Yet there's a closely-related industry that could grow even bigger, but it's one that people rarely consider. It may not be as exciting or fast-paced as the energy market, though it's even more vital. And if you're looking to multiply wealth over longer stretches of time, there's no better market to make it happen.

Water: Energy's Energy

It doesn't matter what type of energy you're talking about... from the deepest oil shale to the newest solar panel, it needs water.

A coal-fired power plant, for example, needs 520 gallons of water to produce one megawatt-hour of electricity. Add a carbon capture — which will soon be required on all plants — and the water requirement doubles to nearly 1,000 gallons per megawatt-hour.

And we still get 50% of our electricity — in the terawatt-hour range — from coal, so you can imagine how much water those plants are consuming.

But that's just the beginning...

Oil shale extraction uses five barrels of water to get one barrel of oil.

Nuclear plants suck up more than 33 million gallons of water each day for cooling.

And it takes 2 billion gallons of water every day to refine just 800 million gallons of petroleum products.

Clean energy isn't immune either, though it is much more sustainable. Solar requires 30 gallons per megawatt-hour; wind requires just one gallon per megawatt-hour.

It doesn't take much more than a pulse to realize that water is just as — if not more — important as energy. And as such, some of your portfolio should be allocated to profiting from it.

The Eternal Bull

Though few people realize it, water stocks are actually a very safe way to grow your money.

Analysis has shown that there are about 270 public companies that generate at least 20% of their revenue from water-related business. Those companies have a combined market cap of nearly $300 billion, and have outperformed the broader market over the past five years.

The growing demand for water and energy, coupled with water's limited supply, has led to growing interest in water-related investments.

CNBC reported late last year that "A growing number of funds now specialize in water, having ballooned to $1.8 billion in total assets, up by 40 percent in size in the last six months."

Over the past year, the Dow has gained almost 60%, which is impressive. But the PowerShares Global Water ETF (NYSE: PIO) is pushing 80% for the same time.

And experts at some of the most well-respected Wall Street watchdogs agree.

An analyst from Lipper (the providers of Lipper averages) recently said, "Water's getting a lot of attention, and it has everything to do with sustainability. There's an expectation that critical water needs are not being met, and that it's only going to get worse in future."

Morningstar just reported: "Emerging economies are continuing to develop, and there's still a lot of progress to be made, so investors are focused on the growing need for potable water."

So grabbing shares of a water ETF for the long haul is definitely a good idea. But if you know where to look, water can offer explosive short-term profits as well.

Rushing Water

Since water is such a critical resource, companies with unique advantages or that do business of high-demand markets are sometimes capable of delivering rapid gains.

I recently advised readers to buy Calgon Carbon Corp. (NYSE: CCC), which uses activated carbon to purify water, before they reported earnings. We were also holding Layne Christensen (NASDAQ: LAYN) when it was upgraded by a major equity analysis firm.

And to really show how much investors think water is worth, a group of wealthy private equity investors have offered to pay $11 per share — a quarter billion dollars — for Southwest Water (NASDAQ: SWWC) and the million customers it has in parched California and Texas.

Here's how those companies have performed over the past week:

So water stocks are clearly capable of delivering stellar short-term gains. You just have to know what makes one more valuable than the next.

And right now, desalination is more valuable than any other water technology. Finding a way to cheaply produce freshwater from our vast salty oceans is a sure way to cure our water woes. That's why huge companies like GE (NYSE: GE) and Siemens (NYSE: SI) have billion-dollar departments dedicated to the technology.

But so far, desalination has proven quite expensive due to the massive energy inputs it requires, leaving only oil-rich Middle Eastern countries able to pursue it on a large scale.

One company is quickly changing all that. It makes a device that uses pressure from the water to power desalination operations, allowing them to produce freshwater — right now — for several times cheaper than their closest competition.

GE is already using the technology. And Warren Buffet has already invested in it, which should indicate its viability.

In this new report, I outline how the technology works, why major investors are piling on, and how you can get in to triple your money as desalination emerges as the default technology for clean water production.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

Investor's Note: As most of us already know, when it comes to investment opportunity, time is of the essence. And as I mentioned earlier, water stocks are on the rise — and are sure to keep growing, as word gets out about this lucrative sector. Savvy investors will get in early to take advantage of profits.

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A New Perspective on Stock Market Strategy

Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico this past weekend, I learned a thing or two about accuracy...

In a 24-foot Grady White, 26 miles off the very coast where Jaws 2 was filmed, my dad and I caught all the fish our arms could handle — from 45-pound Amberjacks to an assortment of Triggerfish, Red Snapper, and Grouper.

With an expert guide, my dad and I caught all the big fish we wanted.

But it wasn't chance that put us on the fish. It was precision.

Know Your Target

With the GPS coordinates of artificial reefs and structure, Captain Chuck Dessommes took us to hotspot after hotspot. A few numbers were all he needed to position the boat so our baits would fall just to the side of sunken oil platforms and aircraft carriers, sometimes down more than 200 feet.

And with hi-tech electronics, he was able to see both the structure and fish below, often lifting anchor to move the boat just a few feet. Modern technology and years of experience — he's been guiding Pensacola charter boats for 26 years — have allowed Chuck to know when which fish will be where.

The same holds true for making big gains from stocks, no matter which sector of the market you're trading. The key, just as in fishing, is targeting one small group of stocks, and knowing as much about them and all the current conditions affecting them as possible.

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Stay Focused

We stayed a bit closer to shore to get our rods on Red Snapper, using five-hook bottom rigs baited with cut squid. To fight the bigger Amberjacks, we moved out to deeper water and jigged much larger hooks fitted with large glow-in-the-dark rubber squid.

In much the same way, I've had great success from focusing on only cleantech stocks and becoming intricately familiar with how they react to the broader market, what types of policy and press releases make them move, and how their earnings will make investors respond.

As Captain Chuck was sharing his fish secrets with me, I was telling him that the biggest money in the stock market is made by outsmarting other investors — regardless of the stock being traded.

If you focus on only a select group of stocks, you become aware of (in the case of cleantech) how their technology is progressing, when their financial reports come out, and how other investors will respond to related bits of news about the company or its market.

Just as trying to catch every fish in the Gulf would be pointless, so is trying to invest in every sector of the market at once. Focus pays off.

It paid off in mid-January when I issued a buy on a small company trying to build two nuclear plants in Idaho. I told readers to buy the day before a key planning and zoning meeting and they double their money in two days:

And it paid off again last week when I got readers into a sustainable plastic play gearing up for a major exchange switch. The switch hasn't even happened yet, but getting in before other investors knew about the event has led to a quick 25% gain:

Asking for Help

On the boat this weekend, I didn't hesitate to ask any question that crossed my mind... From exactly how I should be moving the bait to how I should set the hook with different rods, I wanted to get the best info from an expert on the subject.

And the captain readily obliged, demonstrating the technique, offering up history on various landmarks and wrecks, and giving informational tidbits on every species we caught.

I do the same with stocks and so should you. When I want to know about deficits, macroeconomics, and their effect on the market, I walk downstairs and talk to Steve Christ. Ian Cooper is down there to answer my options questions as well.

You get the idea.

The point is you become an expert on something by studying it for long periods of time with repetition.

Think about it. You're probably an expert on something, whether you know it or not. It's probably the thing your kids, friends, and neighbors ask you about most often.

And when you don't know about something... you seek an expert on the matter.

When I wanted to catch fish in the Gulf, I called Chuck's Charters. And you're here to learn about how to make more money in the market.

Our specialized editors can help you do just that by employing the specificity and focus I described above. From retail and real estate to energy and options, our publications are engineered to help you make more money in whatever sector you choose.

And with our growing network of coverage, I wanted to make sure you were aware of all the resources available to you. There's the editor page, giving background info on all the experts on our team; the video section features new market-themed chats from the bar in our Baltimore office; and the free report section offers in-depth analysis on various investment themes.

At Angelpub.com, you can sign up for free newsletters covering other market themes, in addition to learning about the many specialized stock advisory services we offer.

So no matter the task you want to accomplish — catching more fish, making more money, or any other worldly pursuit — remember to break it down into smaller parts. Decide on a goal, focus on what will help you succeed, and do be afraid to ask a more knowledgeable person for help.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

P.S. You've seen how focusing on one sector has allowed me to make high-percentage gains very quickly. And I've found the next play that will make my readers a fortune. It's not the nuclear company mentioned above, but rather a nuclear fuel company that's pioneered a new fuel additive that's changing the economics of the industry. My readers are already up significantly, but with nuclear energy riding billion dollar federal announcements, the conditions are right for this one to deliver much more.

Residential Solar Installers

It's once again time to take a look at the other side of solar.

Wall Street generally gives more attention to global companies providing cells and modules, but mounting policy advantages in certain states are making regional installers increasingly attractive.

At the federal level, everyone is entitled to a 30% investment tax credit for which the $2,000 cap has been removed. And the "10 Million Solar Roofs and 10 Million Gallons of Solar Water Heating Act of 2010" bill introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont would offer a direct rebate of $1.75/watt for PV systems, potentially offsetting another 25% of the cost.

Combined with the solar incentives offered in 19 other states, a homeowner could only be responsible for 25% of the total cost of a photovoltaic system.

Our Most Profitable Mistake of 2010

Special Financing

My colleague Chris Nelder recently reported on new financing schemes that are also allowing easier access to rooftop solar systems for homeowners:

A different approach uses private third-party financing to front the cost of a solar PV system to end-users, who then pay it off over 15-20 years or more.

In the commercial sector, companies like Solar Power Partners (SPP) and SunRun of California assume the initial installation cost and own and operate the systems in exchange for a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the customer.

Power generated by the system is sold back to the customer, typically at or below grid rates. At the end of the PPA term, the customer can buy the system at fair market value or renew their PPA.

These types of special financing are increasing demand by allowing homeowners to install PV who otherwise wouldn't have all the capital to do so.

And there are a few publicly traded solar installers poised to take advantage of this coming demand.

A Solar Installer With a Plan

SunRun (the company mentioned in the blurb above) has emerged as the nation's leading home solar service company, thanks to its revolutionary financing model. Here's how their website describes it:

With SunRun you purchase solar electricity instead of solar panels, which means that you don't have to burn through your savings to go solar. Most people can get started for as low as $1,000 down. It also means that you'll never have to worry if — or even how — your system is making power. We'll take care of your solar system. You go think about something else.

The man who found that company is named Nat Kreamer, though you won't readily find him on the website any longer...

And that's where it gets interesting for investors.

In April of last year, Kreamer was appointed to the Board of Directors of Lonestar Capital, which is now doing business as Acro Energy Technologies (TSX: ART.V).

He was named President of the company by June with CEO Harry Fleming saying, "Nat's experience in the solar industry will be invaluable to the Company. His expertise will help strengthen our operations in California and his strategic insights will help us grow across the country this year."

I bet it will.

Remember, SunRun's customer database is probably chock-full of homeowners who have applied for financing... just waiting to have solar installed on their roofs.

Not-So-Strange Bedfellows

So they tapped that asset. A strategic alliance was signed under which "Acro Energy and SunRun will offer solar electricity service agreements to residential customers and Acro Energy will sell solar electricity facilities to SunRun as a preferred solar systems integrator."

It's a match made in heaven. Here's what the new couple had to say...

Nat Kreamer, Interim President of Acro Energy (founder of SunRun):

The ability of homeowners to finance solar electricity systems is the single biggest hurdle for the solar integration market. Offering SunRun to our customers is a competitive advantage for Acro Energy. It should help us convert a significant number of currently contracted customers, who want an affordable solar financing option, into revenue.

Lynn Jurich, SunRun President:

Our relationship with Acro Energy will allow SunRun to bring affordable solar to even more homeowners in California. Together, we look forward to growing the number of homeowners who are getting clean energy and saving money.

Acro was the fifth largest solar integrator in California within a month. They're now the fourth largest by sales volume.

Here's how the stock has done against Akeena Solar (NASDAQ: AKNS), the largest integrator in California, since the alliance:

And conditions are right for continued good performance from this installer. Panels are cheap (below $2.00 for Chinese brand), demand is high, and there are good subsidies and financing mechanisms.

In fact, Acro's January year-over-year sales grew 118% according to a release on CNBC, which attributed the growth to recent acquisitions:

In 2009, Acro Energy acquired Acro Electric, Inc, Energy Efficiency Solar, Inc, and the assets of Light Energy Systems. The combined sales of Acro Electric Inc, Energy Efficiency Solar, Inc, and Light Energy Systems grew by 118% in January 2010 compared to their sales in January 2009, based on the number of kilowatts sold.

"We have successfully integrated our California businesses and leveraged them, via organic growth, to catapult Acro to the top tier of market," said Nat Kreamer, president of Acro Energy.

"We plan to capitalize on this success and expertise by expanding into other US solar markets in the first half of 2010," added Harry Fleming, chief executive officer of Acro Energy.

As a residential solar boom gets underway, you may want to consider adding an integrator to your to solar holdings. The action isn't always in cells and modules.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

Cleantech's Yin Yang

The battle of cleantech yin and yang raged on this week as multiple billion-dollar announcements continued to remind us of the industry's coming of age.

In Australia, top cleantech operator AGL Energy Ltd. said it's shelving $1 billion in planned wind investments because of "uncertainty in the government's climate change policies."

Then on the same day, the government announced it had in fact overhauled its renewable energy scheme, leading Reuters to report "the changes would unblock multi-million dollar commercial projects planned by companies including AGL Energy Ltd. and Pacific Hydro."

So it looks like the balance of forces is equal in the land down under.

But here in the States, Deere Co. (NYSE: DE) has begun looking at options for its $1 billion wind portfolio (34 farms, 706 MW) under guidance from Goldman Sach's (NYSE: GS). Potential sale was given as one of the "options," but no reason was given for why the company was looking.

The Economist Calls it "The Fifth Fuel"...

After uranium, coal, gas, and oil...

And there's one company that has a monopoly on it.

Giant banks like Citigroup, Credit Suisse, and Goldman Sachs... are all investing in it.

But this report is about to blow the lid off "The Fifth Fuel" story... And how investors can buy the company that makes it for less than $1.00.

The share price will easily double - or triple - as word gets out.

In a $1.37 billion announcement of its own, the federal government awarded a loan guarantee to BrightSource Energy to aid development of 400 megawatts worth of solar thermal plants in California. It's the biggest single cleantech funding award by the government to date.

Big save from the Feds, but they choked on the next shot...

The Environmental Protection Agency announced it is softening carbon emission requirements on big industry, offering more exemptions for big polluters and delaying any firm regulation until 2011.

I would submit the agency is yielding to pressure from Congress, industry lobbyists, and the Texas lawsuit, two of which we discussed last weekend.

Luckily, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) was there to step in, declaring in a webcast it will eliminate 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas from its supply chain by the end of 2015 — the equivalent of taking nearly 4 million cars off the road.

But Congress dropped the ball once more, as a survey of 12 key swing vote senators from both parties showed passage of a climate/energy bill this year is all but impossible.

Only one thing could save evil from reigning: Bloom Energy, which emerged from stealth mode this week with a 60 Minutes feature on their fuel cell.

Away from our shores, the battle remained one-sided, with perhaps even a bit of emerging romanticism between Europe and Asia.

Britain and Japan were sitting in a tree after Mitsubishi agreed to invest over $150 million in UK turbine development facility. The move furthers the Isle's ambitions of becoming an offshore wind energy mecca.

The country remained in the limelight when research firm Verdantix reported "large British businesses will spend over $5.3 billion on climate change initiatives in 2010." And that "will grow by 14 percent a year to reach $8.4 billion in 2013."

Not to be outdone, the British government announced a new Plug-in Car Grant. Capped at nearly $8,000, the grant will cover a quarter of the cost of electric cars for private and fleet buyers.

And finally...

The German government made public its new feed-in tariff (FiT) cuts. Rooftops and "brownfield" installations get a 16% cut after July 1. Farmland installations are no longer available.

Green Chip has covered this topic well, as subsidy reduction is a sure sign of an industry's maturity. And we've also correctly forecast the outcome: A rush on eligible installs would occur, fed by a rush of imported panels from China.

This is exactly what is (and has been) happening. And new financial reports are showing the result, which Green Chip investors have been capitalizing on...

Chinese companies are killing their quarterly reports. Trina (NYSE: TSL) just reported a $49.2 million quarterly profit, worth $0.74 per share. Estimates were only $0.60 per share.

And more companies are reporting soon, leading Deutsche Bank to practically upgrade the entire sector, saying it expects "Chinese solar firms to be the major beneficiaries of a growth in global demand for photovoltaic modules in 2010."

The success is coming at the peril of European based firms though. SolarWorld (XETRA: SWV), Germany's largest solar company, says it won't meet sales estimates for 2020; Q-Cells (XETRA: QCE) won't give an outlook for the year; and Renewable Energy Corp. (OSLO: REC) says the first two quarters would be "challenging."

We'll continue to help you navigate, starting with a summary of this week's coverage below...

Call it like you see it,

Nick

SEC Mandates Disclosure of Climate Risk: The SEC's Energy Game-Changer
Energy & Capital Editor Nick Hodge takes a look at a recent SEC ruling and divulges how it will impact energy investors.

The Golden State's Latest Wind News: The Recent Law that Will Propel Wind to Profit
Green Chip reports: On January 1, 2010, a new California state law went into effect. And now, 20% of all power generated by California utilities must be generated from renewable sources. This single wind energy stock could deliver gains of more than 112% in the next 4 months!

Arizona Anti-Solar Bill Defeated: Bureaucrats Backpedal on Solar-Killing Bill
Green Chip Publisher Jeff Siegel explains why bureaucrats have been forced to kill a bill that would've gutted the state's solar industry.

Change Coming to German Solar Industry: The World's Solar Panel Leader is Transforming
Editor Sam Hopkins separates fact from fiction in the plan to cut Germany's feed-in tariff (FIT) this summer.

Arizona Solar Bill: Bureaucrats Bully Arizona Solar
Green Chip's Jeff Siegel calls out bully bureaucrats that seek to sink solar momentum in Arizona.

Bloom Energy IPO?: Bloom Energy Featured on 60 Min
Editor Nick Hodge dispels rumors of a Bloom Energy IPO after the company was featured on 60 Minutes.

Debating Climate Change: Debating Climate Change Won't Make You Rich
Green Chip's Jeff Siegel explains why debating climate change won't make rich, but reveals some opportune places to look that could.

The Verdict on the Bloom Box and the 60 Min Coup: Is the Bloom Box Energy's Holy Grail?
Green Chip Editor Chris Nelder takes a critical look at the new Bloom Box fuel cell system, and concludes that it's a modest improvement over standard natural gas-fired power...

SEC Mandates Disclosure of Climate Risk

A major change in Securities & Exchange Commission rules is about to drastically affect energy companies of all stripes.

In short, the change alters the way companies calculate one of the most important factors on which investors base purchase decisions: risk.

And I'm not talking about individual investors; I'm talking about market makers like institutional banks, hedge and mutual funds, and billion-dollar pension funds. They'll soon be looking at the market through a very different prism.

The change quietly took place in late January, when SEC commissioners mandated that companies disclose risk that climate change and the consequences of related legislation places on their assets and operations.

But before you can understand how this will impact your energy investments, you have to understand how it will alter the buying habits of some of the most influential financial institutions in the world...

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Tisk, Tisk to Climate Risk

To see how this change will affect public markets, you needn't look any further than the response from managers of some of the biggest pension funds in the country who purchase billions worth of equities each year.

Nancy Kopp manages Maryland's $33 billion fund and called it a "big step forward."

Anne Stausbol, CEO of the $200 billion California Public Employee's Retirement System (CALPERS), said "Ensuring investors are getting timely, material information on climate-related impacts, including regulatory and physical impacts, is absolutely necessary."

She added, "Investors have a fundamental right to know which companies are well positioned for the future and which are not."

They are obviously looking to invest in companies with minimal climate risk. In other words, companies with high climate risk — high emissions, energy-intensive products, insurance companies — are less valuable to them.

That means they're less valuable to you.

Well-Positioned for the Future

Put yourself in the shoes of a billion-dollar fund manager for a moment, responsible for the wealth of large numbers of people.

Then consider the implications of this change, as described by the Wall Street Journal:

Insurance companies are among those affected by the SEC action. The agency said insurers may want to consider disclosing whether severe weather or changes in sea levels might increase the risk of claims in coastal regions.

The SEC also said companies should weigh disclosure on how pending rules or laws might affect the bottom line. For example, it noted, goods that produce significant greenhouse-gas emissions might see lower demand.

Now, imagine the investment decisions at hand. You have to decide which of two utility companies to invest in...

One has a large portfolio of coal plants with no significant plans to expand the use of clean energy. The other is still largely reliant on coal, but is deploying vast wind assets and has a robust efficiency plan for its customers.

This new rule will require that first company to report its future dependence on coal as a risk that could harm shareholder value.

Don't forget, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is already preparing to regulate greenhouse gases and Congress is debating similar measures. Another new risk to report.

Which do you choose?

This new rule all but forces you to invest in the company with a better clean energy approach.

Such is the new energy investment reality. You have to be well-positioned for the carbon-constrained future to succeed.

The Risk/Reward Seesaw

While this change presents plenty of new risk, it should also make clear many possible rewards.

Take BusinessWeek's recent comparison of two utilities:

American Electric Power Co., the biggest U.S. producer of electricity from coal, released 148 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2008, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Exelon Corp., the biggest U.S. nuclear-power producer, produced 9.7 million tons of greenhouse-gas emissions in the same year.

In some ways, it's not hard to see how market makers have been individually assessing this risk for years:

This just makes it official.

And by default, companies with less or no climate risk are becoming inherently more valuable. It's like a risk/reward seesaw.

As fund managers and banks try to reduce their exposure to companies with high climate risk, they'll conversely be trying to increase exposure to companies with little or no climate risk

It's not hard to imagine how this will play out...

Coal miners will be abandoned for wind turbine companies...

Ethanol companies could take the place of gas refiners...

That's why there's been a slew of new funds created to harness the upside of this seesaw, like the Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy Fund (GAAEX) and the PowerShares WilderHill Progressive Energy Fund (NYSE: PUW), to name just two.

As you make energy investment decisions in the future, you'll want to keep this new risk paradigm in mind. Those with excessive exposure should send up an immediate red flag.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

P.S. One of the industries with the greatest exposure to this new risk is the auto industry. Their product is not only energy-intensive to make, it's also dependent on fossil fuels for all of its useful life. That's why big investors — Buffett included — are looking for alternative investments in the space.

One such investment — a tiny Chinese electric car maker — has already been touted by Buffett's go-to analyst as "one of the most interesting small companies in the world." This report reveals why that company is about to make early investors a fortune.

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Bloom Energy IPO?

So Bloom Energy was featured on 60 Minutes last night. Now what?

Well, apparently the piece has incited fuel cell and IPO fever - neither of which may be justified.

A spot on 60 Minutes is great, and draws plenty of national attention. After the airing, Bloom Energy related keywords were occupying five of the ten hottest Google searches in the country.

And the results, quite frankly, were disturbing. I even found one article claiming Bloom could be publicly listed by this Wednesday.

Of course, that would be comparable to a virgin birth, since Bloom hasn't even filed the necessary paperwork yet.

If you really want to stay on top of new and exciting cleantech companies like this one, perhaps you should read these pages a bit more frequently.

I squashed the Bloom Energy IPO rumors back in November. And I got the info directly from the horse's mouth, John Doerr... the billionaire venture capitalist who's backing the venture.

Here's what I had to say then:

According to Doerr, the main hurdle facing cleantech is its capital intensity.

He said it took $25 million and 3 years to bring Google to an initial public offering (IPO).

Compare that to Bloom Energy, a Doerr-backed fuel cell company. Bloom has already gobbled up $250 million and seven years. Doerr said it'll be nine years before they think about an IPO, even though it has "substantial revenues and orders."

According to Doerr, there is simply more "capital required to grow a great green company." And that's what has delayed major investment - both public and private - thus far.

So no, there's no Bloom Energy stock symbol just yet. But we'll be sure to pass news along should they file for an initial public offering (IPO). If you want to learn more about the company, here's a link to their site.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

Why the "We" vs. "They" Stuff is Getting Old

We've been saying that nuclear energy would see a resurgence under the Obama Administration, and more evidence to that effect surfaced this week...

On Monday, the administration announced $8.3 billion in loan guarantees that will allow Southern Co. (NSYE: SO) to start work on two new reactors. They'll be the first in the States in nearly three decades.

But that amounts to only a fraction of the $54 billion he's requested for the industry, which the Department of Energy says will be enough to get eight more reactors underway.

It's funny how nuclear has evolved as the only political common ground in the energy debate...

Most other issues are bitterly divided, which is one reason Evan Bayh, a long-time U.S. senator, announced he won't seek reelection. United Nations climate chief Yvo de Boer, who oversaw the failed Copenhagen talks, announced he's stepping down for similar reasons.

And that wasn't the only divisiveness this week...

On Tuesday, BP America, ConocoPhillips, and Caterpillar rescinded their membership in the U.S. Climate Action Partnership — a group lobbying for progressive energy legislation — saying it would hurt their businesses.

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This We vs. They stuff is getting old. Climate change and peak oil affects us all, and all companies — oil majors included — have a part of the solution to offer.

But apparently Texas didn't get the memo. It filed a petition in federal court this week challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's finding that carbon emissions endanger human health.

Governor Rick Perry called the EPA's finding "misguided." Of course, that's moronic. Let's hook his mouth up to a tailpipe for a day and see if his health improves.

Outside the Divided States, the rest of the world continued laying plans that will ensure continued economic prosperity, job creation, and energy security...

German-based Siemens (NYSEL: SI) — Europe's largest engineering group — said it will focus on mergers and acquisitions in its pursuit to become one of the top three turbine producers in the world.

Five new companies joined the $549 billion Desertec initiative, which plans to harness solar energy in the Sahara with which to power all of Europe. (The plan is genius.)

Italy announced it will double its solar capacity this year to 2,000 megawatts as installers race to claim incentives before they expire later this year.

And the European Wind Energy Association was out with a report this week showing "the European Union will meet and could even exceed its target of getting 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020."

The U.S. has no such national target.

In a brilliant soccer analogy this week, Chris Nelder summed up perfectly what we as a nation need to do and what will happen if we don't:

We need to learn teamwork and good sportsmanship. The Greens, the Browns, the Department of Energy, Congress and all the states should work together to score a win for Team America.

Or we can stay in the pee wee league while the smart teams go on to play for the resource championship of the world.

You can catch the full article below.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

Renewable Energy Legislation: Legal Eagles Help Cleantech Stars Rise
Editor Sam Hopkins has met some legal eagles whose sights are fixed squarely on cleantech, and he explains why lawyers are imperative to the success of the sector.

The Monster Metal: The Most Profitable Nuclear Advancement in 50 Years
Short of nuclear fusion (which is still decades away), this discovery could prove to be the greatest advancement to the world's energy crisis in 50 years! Green Chip reveals the company with the worldwide monopoly on this monster metal — and why you should buy this stock while it's still selling for less than 20 cents.

What Soccer Can Teach Us about Energy Policy: An Energy Playbook for Team USA
Energy and Capital Editor Chris Nelder draws some lessons from the world's most beloved sport about how to formulate good energy policy...

The Coming End of a 40-Year Drug War: Why It Could Mean Massive Profits for Investors
Green Chip reports: The same drug cartel that has fed our nation's oil addiction for more than four decades is about to crumble. This new report reveals why a staggering amount of money is about to be made from the end of the biggest and most powerful monopoly of our nation's history.

Nuclear Energy's Second Wind: How to Harness Energy's New Picks & Shovels
Energy & Capital Editor Nick Hodge covers the recent surge in nuclear news and the one company about to capture growth on the fuel side of the business.

The Single Uranium Stock to Buy Right Now: Uranium on the Rise as Obama Goes Nuclear
Publisher Brian Hicks explains what a pro-nuclear President means for uranium, and recommends a stock that should see gains of 100% — or better — by July.

China's Clean Energy Progress: Who's Winning the Cleantech Arms Race?
Green Chip Editor Nick Hodge discusses China's clean energy progress and how the U.S. is in danger of falling behind.

Nuclear Energy's Second Wind

The first U.S. nuclear power plant in nearly three decades.

That's what $8.3 billion in loan guarantees announced this week will ensure. The money will help Southern Co. (NYSE: SO) build two reactors at its Vogtle plant in Georgia, near the South Carolina border.

Of course, I've been hammering home the idea of a nuclear revival since we sang Auld Lang Syne nearly two months ago. With growing regulations on the coal industry and the underdevelopment of renewable resources, nuclear is becoming the de facto option for clean baseload power.

The $8.3 billion commitment was enough to send the entire sector higher all week, with everyone from Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) to Shaw Group (NYSE: SHAW) turning in 5% to 10% two-day runs.

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Easy Math

The United States gets about 20% of its electricity from 104 nuclear reactors. So each one is producing about 0.2% of our needs.

By contrast, we get 49% of our electricity from 614 coal plants — each one generating about 0.08% of our total supply.

Easy math tells us then that nuclear plants produce twice as much power as coal plants. And with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) now requiring companies to disclose their carbon risk (yes, this is a reality), the Environmental Protection Agency declaring carbon dioxide a threat to public health, and an all out ban on new coal plants in California and elsewhere... next-generation nuclear plants are becoming more and more of a no-brainer.

And so is investing in it.

Nuclear Picks & Shovels

Per the Obama budget, $54.5 billion has been requested for nuclear loan guarantees. According the Department of Energy (DoE), that's enough to get construction of ten new reactors underway.

And that's just in the United States...

China is currently building eight reactors and has twenty in the planning stages.

The United Kingdom just lifted a moratorium on new nuclear construction and has proposed ten new plants.

And the United Arab Emirates just awarded a $40 billion deal to a Korean-led consortium to build four reactors and operate them for 60 years.

It's turning into a modern-day gold rush. And just as the merchants of picks and shovels made more money than miners in the late 1800s, so too will suppliers of necessary nuclear materials earn more than plant builders and operators.

Of course, I'm talking about suppliers of nuclear fuel. Because while nuke builders like Westinghouse and Areva will get business from new reactors... fuel suppliers will get business from both new and existing plants.

That's the reason uranium stock indices are already outperforming other players in the nuclear game. Just check out the response to this week's news:

It's not hard to see which side of the industry investors prefer. Nuclear fuel is where all the action is — and will continue to be.

Getting in now will ensure handsome returns as the countries around the world increasingly turn to nuclear power.

We'll have plenty of guidance on this issue as the renaissance continues, but there is one stock you can buy right now to ensure triple-digit returns from the nuclear fuel sector.

It's not a uranium company, but instead makes a fuel additive that allows 25% more energy to be extracted from existing nuclear fuel. Even better, it absorbs much more heat, preventing meltdowns from happening ever again.

And that's the beauty of this play: It doesn't matter which company is supplying the fuel, they'll all be forced to buy this additive for the billions in cost savings and added safety it offers to plant operators.

I've prepared a full report on the company that. But if you want to get in at a good price, you have to act fast... it's ticking higher with every new nuclear announcement.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

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Next Generation Nuclear Technology

The rich get richer.

That phrase has entered our common diction for a reason: by and large, it holds true.

You see, the rich aren't just good at staying rich — hoarding assets, beating the tax code — but they're also good at creative financial thinking. If financial planning were a chess game, the rich would always be thinking several moves ahead.

Case in point: Bill Gates.

Even in his younger days, Gates knew how turn a dollar. In eighth grade, he used proceeds from a yard sale to buy a precursor to the modern computer: an 8-bit ASR-33 made by Teletype. You know the rest of the story...

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But here's the thing about the rich: their frame of mind never changes. It's always about the next big thing — identifying the next mega market trend before anyone else.

Right now, Gates is at it again. And you might be surprised to learn the market he's after.

Gates' Stealth Company

Of course, you know about Microsoft's success because of its immense public presence. But the rich are good at hiding things — be it lumps of cash in offshore havens or big ideas in the works.

So I'm guessing you've never heard of Intellectual Ventures, which BusinessWeek calls Gates' "innovation/invention incubation outfit."

This time, Gates is working on what he refers to as an energy miracle, incubating a company called Terrapower. The company's website boasts that "a wave of fission moving slowly through a fuel core could generate a billion watts of electricity continuously for well over 50 to 100 years without refueling."

Put simply, Gates is looking to build a nuclear plant that uses natural or depleted uranium.

Can it happen? That's yet to be seen. By its own admission, Terrapower says any such plant wouldn't come online until the "early 2020s." Still, I pass this tidbit along not for its energy implications, but for the investment philosophy behind it.

Ahead of the Nuclear Curve

Gates is clearly able to assess the long-term writing on the wall.

He was funding Terrapower long before nuclear energy made its way back into the limelight. He knew nuclear energy had to make a resurgence if we're ever to truly enjoy energy independence and reduce our emissions.

He was thinking several chess moves ahead.

And look what's happening now...

Obama just called for a "new generation" of nuclear power plants to be built in the United States and has requested $54 billion in his budget to get them started.

Just this week, the Wall Street Journal reported, "The Department of Energy (DoE) is awarding the first conditional loan guarantee for a new nuclear power plant in the U.S. to Southern Co.'s Vogtle plant in Georgia."

Think Like the Rich

So here's your opportunity to think like a rich investor, because it's unlikely you're able to fund a nuclear start-up like Gates can.

For starters, you'll want to look at the next companies in line for nuclear loan guarantees... like the one just awarded to Southern Co. (NYSE: SO).

According to DoE filings, Scana Corp. (NYSE: SCG), Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG), and NRG Energy (NYSE: NGR) are next on the list.

But there's an even better way to think like a billionaire investor — by capitalizing on the one thing every new and existing nuclear power plant needs, regardless of who builds them: fuel.

By investing in nuclear fuel, you gain exposure to the entire industry and all of its coming growth.

Now, the standard names are already out there. Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) is the obvious choice. But to truly think like the rich, you have to think outside the box.

And there's a company doing just that. It's making a nuclear fuel additive that allows 25% more energy to be extracted from existing nuclear fuel. Even better, it absorbs much more heat, preventing meltdowns from happening ever again.

It's truly a few steps ahead. This company is already lining up massive sales contracts. It'll be common knowledge soon — but right now, it's still being "incubated," as Gates would say.

The company is public and you can buy shares now. All the information about the company and its breakthrough technology can be found in this new report.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

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China's Clean Energy Progress

Every so often, the Green Chip team is asked to provide insight about the cleantech industry to national magazines and other media outlets. Next month, Nick Hodge will be featured in SFO Magazine, covering China's growing presence in the space. Here's a sneak peek at his article before it hits the stands.

Enjoy,

Jeff Siegel
Managing Editor

The United States is rarely referred to as a silver-medal nation. But that's exactly what we're becoming with respect to the race for clean energy.

There's been progress on domestic soil to be sure. Installed wind capacity has grown over 900% since 2000. Solar installations have kept similar pace.

But there's an unexpected place where clean technology is being deployed at a more rapid rate. A place often condemned for its perverse pollution; a country often decried as the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs): China.

Enter the Dragon

As the U.S. continues its polarized debate around cleantech policy — diddling with implementing some type of carbon pricing, a federal renewable energy standard (RES), and a way to streamline large projects — the Chinese have quickly lept to a leadership position in the industry.

In 2006, they passed an RES calling for renewables to comprise 15% of the energy mix by 2020. But Shang Xiaoqiang, vice chairman of the country's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), recently said capacity could grow to 20% by that time.

Studies also show that by 2020, China could actually install three times its 30 gigawatt (GW) wind target. And they'll meet their 2020 solar target of 1.8 GW next year.

The U.S. hasn't even set national targets, so meeting or beating them is a moot point.

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And when it comes to government investment, the Chinese have long pulled away. Our Recovery Act called for $80 billion to be invested in the sector. China has announced $217 billion for the next five years, and could invest upward of $650 billion in the next decade.

One recent report claimed they're spending $12 million per hour ensuring they emerge on top.

For the U.S., 'losing' could quickly turn into 'lost.' Fortunately for investors, stock exchanges are border agnostic.

The Cleantech Arms Race

In a very real way, democracy is hindering the States' deployment of cleantech assets. The infamous Cape Wind project has been stymied because it'll "ruin the view." Massive utility-scale solar installations in southwestern states have been delayed on behalf of reptiles.

And that's without mentioning the see-sawing in Congress as lobbyists on both sides of the issue wield their well-funded swords. A recent Reuters report succinctly noted:

Beijing's top leaders have made clear their intention to have their nation dominate this new industry, up and down the value ladder. And in their quest for the prize, they are not burdened by concerns facing their Western counterparts — such as the impact of wind turbines on landscapes, higher energy prices for consumers, or investor returns.

Our leaders' inaction has not only delayed development of what could be a trillion-dollar domestic market — not to mention energy independence — but they've forced companies within that market to tread water by providing inconsistent incentives and policy guidance.

The evidence of this is abundant. But the issue really came to the fore when a Chinese company, A-Power Generation (NASDAQ: APWR), was selected to provide turbine parts for a $1.5 billion U.S. stimulus-funded wind farm in Texas.

Politicians on both sides cried foul before A-Power announced it would build a manufacturing facility in the U.S. that will employ 1,000 workers while cranking out parts for wind turbines.

So it's not only difficult for U.S. companies to get ahead, it's increasingly easier for China-based cleantech companies to row their boats ashore.

Made by China

China's laser-like focus on cleantech has thrust them squarely into a global leadership position.

Last year, Chinese companies produced about 50% of the world's solar cells. And that's likely to rise to 70% in the next few years, as costs continue to fall more quickly there than in Europe or the U.S. In fact, firms based in Germany — the cradle of the modern solar industry — have been finding it's cheaper to buy from the Chinese than it is to make their own solar cells.

And they're not just ramping up production; solar installations are also on the upswing. China will meet its 2020 target of 1.8 GW next year, and Greentech Media is forecasting installed solar capacity could actually hit 10 GW in the next decade, implying a 450% expansion.

Wind energy is witnessing a similar scenario. The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has reported that China "doubled its entire installed capacity each year since 2005." Last year, they became the largest wind market in the world, installing 13 GW compared to 10.5 GW in Europe and 9.9 GW in the U.S.

That growth is largely due to a booming Chinese wind manufacturing market. Producers like Sinovel and Goldwind are already top ten globally, and could soon threaten companies like GE and Suzlon that currently inhabit the top five.

The Chinese cleantech production model is so robust that it's now being exported around the globe, in much the same way that other Asian countries have taken automobile manufacturing abroad.

A-Power — the company awarded part of a U.S. stimulus-induced wind project — is already setting up manufacturing on U.S. soil. Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE) has announced plans to build a solar manufacturing facility on U.S. Turf; so has Suntech Power (NYSE: STP).

And, in the most revelatory example of all, the Wall Street Journal has reported that "Duke Energy Corp.(NYSE: DUK) is in talks with State Grid Corp., China's biggest electricity distributor, over a joint venture that may involve cooperating on power transmission lines in the U.S."

While we were distracted by health care, Tea Parties, and executive pay, China quickly pounced on what is proving to be the most vital and valuable industry of the 21^st century. They've mastered the production side and, as the Duke example highlights, they're moving on transmission as well.

Our energy assets of tomorrow may not be made in China, but it looks like they'll made by China. And, as you can imagine, Chinese cleantech success is also apparent in public markets.

Rated to Outperform

Here in the States, First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) is by far the most recognizable solar name. The company still boasts one of the lowest costs per watt and highest efficiencies for thin film solar. But First Solar, too, is losing ground as Chinese firms continue making inroads. The stock is down nearly $200 from its 2008 high over $300.

The same holds true for Germany's Q-Cells, one of the largest solar cell producers in the world. The growing Chinese advantage in both cost and scale have led to a huge discrepancy in prices for stocks that share the same peer group, as companies like Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) and Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) have pulled investors away from traditional solar stocks.

That trend is being mirrored in the wind industry, where protectionism has forced billion-dollar development costs to remain on the balance sheets of Chinese companies. Though industry stalwarts like Vestas (COP: VWS) and Gamesa (MCE: GAM) are knocking hard on the door, failure to penetrate the Chinese market has caused investors to look elsewhere for wind-blown returns.

Most analysts and industry insiders — myself included — don't see this trend abating anytime soon. Feed-in tariff (FiT) cuts for cleantech in Europe, though a sign of industry maturation, are driving sales higher in China as installers race to buy turbines and panels at the lowest cost before subsidies are cut later this year.

And the lack of long-term policy guidance in the U.S. is forcing cleantech companies here into a holding pattern, hesitant to invest in new manufacturing capacity or asset deployment with uncertainties still rampant with respect to the tax code and incentives. With price parity still not reached, renewable energy developers sometimes don't even know if there will be an end buyer for their electricity.

China, on the other hand, passed a law last year requiring grid operators to buy all the electricity produced by renewable resources. What's more, the Chinese cost advantage is leading to rebranding, wherein a company like GE buys solar panels from a second-tier Chinese company and sells them as their own.

This is paving the way for many companies you've never heard of to emerge as global players. Yingli, JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO), Renesola (NYSE: SOL) and others are already becoming household names. Yingli is even sponsoring this year's FIFA World Cup.

The initial public offering (IPO) market is also flooded with Chinese entrants. Blade maker HT Blade, polysilicon producer Daqo, and wafer maker JinkoSolar have all already filed.

Indeed, it looks like the global cleantech game will be dominated by Chinese players for the foreseeable future. And that's a vast departure from standard practice, where China has typically trailed European and U.S. companies in entering nascent industries.

In a recent talk at an industry conference in Washington D.C., President of GCL Solar Energy Hunter Jiang didn't mince words about his country's position. His company is now the third largest producer of polysilicon in the world. After ruminating on China's laggard position throughout modern history's industrial revolutions and commenting on how automobiles and computers were cradled elsewhere, he said, "Today we are the leader."

Call it like you see it,

Nick

P.S. Solar and wind aren't the only sectors being dominated by the Chinese... one small company is about to make a big splash in the battery arena. Its batteries are already in nearly every power tool in China, and soon they'll be in every hybrid the Middle Kingdom churns out. Some analysts — Berkshire's Charlie Munger included — say it's one of the best cleantech growth companies around. You can learn all about it in this new report.

The Continuing Tale of Cleantech's Maturation

Last week, we covered the emergence of China as a cleantech stalwart during a time in which the U.S. has shown scant progress.

The theme isn't much different this week, though there is more positive news to report on a global basis...

For starters, maturation of the cleantech market was evident this week by the number of mergers and acquisitions taking place, and the number of new initiatives announced by blue chip companies.

SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWRA) announced they're buying European solar integrator SunRay in a $277 million deal.

The world's largest nuclear plant builder, Areva, is buying the much-hyped solar startup Ausra for an undisclosed amount. But you can bet it was a hefty sum, as venture capitalists alone had more than $130 million tied up in the company.

And there were other announcements showing cleantech's maturation...

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Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is building a green distribution center in Vancouver. The refrigerated warehouse will be 60% more efficient than current centers, thanks largely to improved forklifts, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and solar panels.

United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) said they're on the verge of making "bigger bets" in the space, including a possible takeover of turbine maker Clipper Windpower (LSE: CWP).

And while litigation is rarely a good thing, GE's decision to sue Mitsubishi over wind turbine patent infringement shows just how big the financial implications of cleantech have become.

But despite the positive announcements, all cleantech roads are still leading to China.

Solar companies based there came out swinging as earnings season got underway. JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO) and Renesola (NYSE: SOL) each beat estimates, sending shares higher.

Europe is scaling back its feed-in tariffs (FITs) — which is also a sign of market maturation — and solar integrators are rushing to buy discounted Chinese modules before the subsidy cuts take place later this year.

The rest of the group will be reporting over the next few weeks, and good results are expected across the board.

And Datang Corp., China's second-largest power producer, said this week that it plans to float shares of its renewable energy unit in a $1 billion Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO).

If that weren't enough, we learned this week that China has finished design work on three Westinghouse nuclear plants. Construction will begin this year on all three plants.

Westinghouse, a unit of Japan's Toshiba, already has four reactors under construction in the Middle Kingdom. Areva (the company that bought Ausra) is building two.

Nuclear growth in China — and elsewhere — is the reason Green Chip began covering the space this year.

We'll continue covering that story — and all other green business trends — as it develops.

You can catch up on the rest of this week's Green Chip coverage below...

Call it like you see it,

Nick

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Chinese Cleantech Companies — Made in the USA (by China): Where China's Spending $12Mil/Hour
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Chinese Cleantech Companies: Made in the USA (by China)

As you'd expect, the China panel was a focal point at last week's RETECH 2010 conference in Washington D.C. So I passed up the Renewable Energy Project Finance and Carbon Credits panels to be there.

I'm glad I did, because you'll be amazed at what the Chinese are doing in the energy sector... and at how much money early investors stand to make.

China's 'Manhattan Project'

As we've clumsily tried to stimulate our way out of recession — spending billions mostly on pet projects — China has acted with concentrated focus.

Their goal: To dominate what will be the largest emerging industry this century — cleantech.

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Our country's stimulus poured $66 billion into the sector. But a buckshot approach — funding everything from nuclear cleanup to federal building retrofits — failed to address the main issues facing the industry, namely securing capital and streamlining large projects.

And what funds were made available are still largely tied up with bureaucratic red tape.

In contrast, China has allocated $218 billion to be spent on cleantech in the next five years. And red tape there is mostly non-existent.

As Reuters recently put it:

Beijing's top leaders have made clear their intention to have their nation dominate this new industry, up and down the value ladder. And in their quest for the prize, they are not burdened by concerns facing their Western counterparts — such as the impact of wind turbines on landscapes, higher energy prices for consumers, or investor returns.

And yet, there are plenty of investor returns... because their plan is working.

$12 Million/Hour

That's what the Chinese are spending to beat us in the cleantech arms race. Victories are already being claimed.

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has reported that China "doubled its entire installed capacity each year since 2005." Last year, they became the largest wind market in the world, passing the U.S. and Europe.

We installed 9.9 gigawatts; they installed 13.

China is now also producing nearly 50% of the world's solar cells annually, but that's likely to grow to 70%. And they're doing it more cheaply than their established German counterparts. (In fact, German companies have been finding it's cheaper to buy from the Chinese than it is to make their own.)

This is leading to a surge of Chinese-based cleantech companies — some of which you've never heard of — that are generating huge revenues and building massive wealth for their shareholders.

I'm talking about companies like GCL-Poly (now the world's third largest polysilicon producer), Sinovel and Goldwind (global top ten turbine producers), Duoyuan Global Water, and Trina Solar.

Take a look at how those companies are performing relative to U.S. cleantech giants like First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR):

It's almost embarrassing... unless, of course, you've been investing in Chinese cleantech companies.

And this is only the beginning. The Chinese edge is becoming sharper every day.

Made in the USA (by China)

Perhaps you remember the stink made when it was learned a Chinese company was selected to provide turbines for a $1.5 billion U.S. stimulus-funded wind farm in Texas.

The company was Shenyang-based A-Power Generation Systems (NASDAQ: APWR). And they quickly squashed the opposition by announcing they'll build a manufacturing facility in the U.S. that will employ 1,000 workers while cranking out parts for wind turbines.

Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE) has announced plans to build a solar manufacturing facility on U.S. turf.

At the conference, executives from both GCL-Poly and China Guangdong Nuclear Wind Power said they'll soon be establishing a U.S. presence.

And, in the most revelatory example of all, the Wall Street Journal reported: "Duke Energy Corp. is in talks with State Grid Corp., China's biggest electricity distributor, over a joint venture that may involve cooperating on power transmission lines in the U.S."

While we were arguing about landscapes (I'm looking at you, Cape Wind), debating a national renewable energy standard (RES — still hasn't been passed), and decrying cap-and-trade, the Chinese went ahead and leapfrogged us.

During a session at the conference, Hunter Jiang, president of GCL-Poly, didn't mince words about his country's position. After ruminating on China's laggard position throughout modern history's industrial revolutions and commenting on how automobiles and computers were cradled elsewhere, he said, "Today we are the leader."

So tell your senator to invest in the USA, but tell your broker you want to buy China.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

P.S. One tiny company is leveraging China's cleantech spending blitz to take the global battery and auto markets by storm. Its groundbreaking lithium-ion battery is already being used in cars and tools across Asia, and sales are expected to begin in Europe and Asia this year. Warren Buffett has already bought in — and turned a tidy profit — but it'll double several times over as the company becomes one of the largest advanced battery makers in the world.

A Global Energy Monopoly

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Notes from This Year's RETECH Expo

I spent part of this week at RETECH 2010, keeping up to date with global policy initiatives, cleantech capital flows, and gaining perspective on the short- and long-term scenarios for our industry.

There were facts and data aplenty, and as soon as I reread my notes and comb through the PowerPoints, I'll be passing the information along to you. But the short version is this...

The United States had better get its act together. We've still no federal renewable energy standard; no carbon pricing mechanism; no robust incentive or tariff plans to bring solar and wind to parity; no way to streamline big projects; and no 21^st century grid to handle the new generation sources that we're behind in deploying.

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Meanwhile... China emerged last year as the number one wind market in the world, nearly doubling their capacity with 13 gigawatts installed. They're spending $12 million an hour ensuring not only that they win the cleantech arms race... but that they're in a position to export that technology around the globe.

China's financial commitment to cleantech is fully 3% of their GDP. The funds that have been allocated here in the States work out to about 0.5% of ours.

During a session at the conference, Hunter Jiang, president of GCL Solar Energy, didn't mince words about his country's position. After ruminating on China's laggard position throughout modern history's industrial revolutions and commenting on how automobiles and computers were cradled elsewhere, he said, "Today we are the leader."

Next year his company, GCL Solar Energy, will produce 21,000 metric tons of polysilicon. Their wafer capacity will be 2 gigawatts.

Elsewhere this week...

Brazil's Cosan (NSYE: CZZ) — GCI stock pick and world's largest ethanol and sugar processor — agreed to merge its ethanol and fuel distribution businesses with Shell in a $12 billion deal.

The European Union decided this week to hold a technology competition for capture and sequestration (CCS). The prize is nearly $6 billion, and will be taken from the bloc's carbon market.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, the International Monetary Fund said it's working on plans for an international "green fund" to help developing countries deal with climate change. IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said it "could climb to $100 billion a year."

In the U.S., our wake up call continued...

The International Energy Agency warned this week that we can't meet our emissions goals unless we put a price on carbon (Remember, the EU is handing out $6 billion prizes from their scheme.).

According to executive director Nobuo Tanaka: "To really achieve these (emission) targets, the U.S. certainly has to introduce carbon prices either by cap-and-trade or carbon tax. The Senate must pass this comprehensive energy and climate bill otherwise it cannot design a cap and trade system."

And while the president's budget calls for a "comprehensive market-based policy" to fight climate change, it dropped any projected revenues from such a scheme. Last year, Obama forecast revenues of $646 billion in the years 2012-2019 from an emissions trading program.

That's pretty much the last nail in the cap-and-trade coffin.

We also learned that cellulosic ethanol makers won't come close to meeting their 100 million gallon Congressional output target this year. Instead, the target will be more than 90% less at just 6.5 million gallons.

Yet, I mentioned to find a few bright spots...

The Obama budget asked Congress for a second time to end nearly $40 billion in subsidies for the oil and gas industries and to direct those funds to foster the clean energy economy.

And a report by the RES-Alliance for Jobs found that a federal RES of 25% by 2025 will create three times more jobs than other measures currently being debated by Congress. With unemployment hovering at 10%, Washington is all about jobs these days.

If energy security and reduced emissions won't get Congress to act... maybe a few million green jobs will.

Expect full coverage of the conference next week. You can catch up on the rest of this week's coverage below...

Call it like you see it,

Nick

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Nuclear Energy Stocks: Nuclear Hurdles & Profitable Leaps
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Nuclear Energy Stocks

We need to encourage American innovation... And no area is more ripe for such innovation than energy... And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. — 2010 State of the Union Address

Those words, even during a time of intense partisanship, brought both sides of the aisle to their feet during last week's presidential address. And they stood for a litany of reasons...

For starters, total electricity consumption will grow from 3,873 billion kWh in 2008 to 5,021 billion kWh in 2035 — an increase of 30% — according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) most recent Annual Energy Outlook.

But on a global scale, demand will surge much higher thanks to the coming-of-age of developing countries. A 100% increase in global electricity demand is expected in the next two decades.

One of the Most Profitable Plays of 2010

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Because there's one company that could double - or triple - your money as they receive massive gov't incentives and their sales begin to soar.

And coal, while expected to remain the dominant fuel for electricity, isn't expected to expand all that much. According to the same EIA report: "The mix of investments in new power plants includes fewer coal-fired plants than other fuel technologies" because of "concerns about GHG emissions continue to slow the expansion of coal-fired capacity... even under current laws and policies."

Some areas have already banned the building of new coal plants altogether.

But nuclear is in for a bump, from 100.6 gigawatts (GW) currently to 112.9 GW in 2035. Some of that growth will come from new plants and some will come from upgrades to existing plants. What's more, there are no planned plant retirements in the next 25 years.

In fact, the EIA says "plant owners will apply for, and be granted, license extensions beyond the current 20-year extensions of operating licenses."

And that's just in the U.S. Plenty of other countries are pursuing ambitious nuclear plans, as well. Globally, the World Nuclear Association is projecting a 203% increase in capacity by 2060, from a current base of 373 gigawatts.

So those are the predictions.

But how are we to get there?

Nuclear Hurdles & Profitable Leaps

Of course, nuclear still has its fair share of issues to deal with. And solving these issues is turning into a billion-dollar business as the world races to secure energy for the 9 billion people that will be here by 2035.

Safety is at the top of the list.

As my colleague Keith Kohl touched on last week, Chernobyl still comes to mind for many when nuclear is mentioned. But a new generation of reactors is ready to change all that.

GE (NYSE: GE), Areva, Westinghouse, and Korea Electric Power (NYSE: KEP) are each offering reactors with new technologies that make safety a top priority. These reactors use proven concepts — like gravity and heat circulation — to ensure safety, rather than relying on pumps and valves that can fail.

The new reactors will add to a nuclear safety record that has been blemish-free for two decades, as operating experience increased from 4,000 reactor-years to more than 13,000.

Waste is also a key issue, especially with the fate of Yucca Mountain unclear. But looking to the international community can provide some answers.

In Sweden, where 45% of the electricity comes from nuclear, a small town recently struck a deal to create one of the world's first-ever long-term storage facilities for nuclear waste. The site will commence construction in 2016 and will be able to store nuclear waste for 100,000 years.

What's interesting is that several Swedish towns were actually competing to host the facility for its revenue and job prospects...

Finland and France are also pursuing this type of long-term storage. (For investment purposes, the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Companies is owned 36% by Vattenfall, 30% Forsmark, 22% OKG, and 12% E.ON Sweden.)

But the biggest advancement that will push nuclear forward — both as an energy source and an investment vehicle — is going to come from the fuel itself.

Nuclear Plays the Metal Game

Top universities have been toying with the idea of adding various metals to uranium to form a kind of nuclear superfuel that could solve many of the industry's problems. Metal oxides are already used as reflectors in nuclear warheads and reactors, but they're about to be added to the fuel, too.

Researchers have found that combining metal oxides with uranium oxides results in a fuel that is able to withstand much higher temperatures, greatly increasing the efficiency and safety of nuclear power plants.

And they've found that one metal, in particular, outperforms all others.

The company funding this research is about to enter the last of three test phases before the new fuel can be made available. And they're already in $100 million supply talks with major nuclear fuel suppliers.

What's more, the company owns the technology from soup to nuts. They own the process to make the fuel additive... and they own enough reserves of the rare metal to power the nuclear industry for 100 years.

The full report on this company — just out today — explains the process, the metal, and how the tiny company behind it is about to make a fortune.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

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The Beginning of a Nuclear Revival

Obama's fiscal 2011 budget is seeking a near-200% increase in nuclear funding.

Right now, $18.5 billion has been authorized. He's looking for $54 billion.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the request comes just days "after the U.S. Energy Department announced Friday that it has asked former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, a Democrat, and former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft to lead a panel charged with developing a long-term solution for managing the nation's used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste."

It sure sounds like the nuclear industry is about to come out of hibernation.

Stoking the fire, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said this week, "I personally think that nuclear power has a place" because "it is carbon-free."

And Carol Browner, Obama's energy and climate advisor, has been out stumping for nuclear as well: "As the world moves to tackle climate change and diversify our national energy portfolio, nuclear energy will play a vital role."

It's not hard to see the writing on the wall...

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Nuclear: The New Common Ground

Even Congress is talking about nudging nuclear along... with support from both sides of the aisle.

Reuters reports that "Three U.S. senators — Democrat John Kerry, Republican Lindsey Graham and Independent Joe Lieberman — are working on a bipartisan bill to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions."

To gain republican support, the bill includes incentives and loan guarantees that would expand the use of nuclear power.

Lieberman's spokesman said the loan guarantees "will help engage supporters of nuclear power from both sides of the aisle."

Kerry said it's "an important sign of the White House's commitment to addressing climate change and advancing clean energy goals."

Even the perpetually displeased Lisa Murkowski had good things to say, exclaiming that increased incentives were "a good first step toward expanding our use of clean nuclear energy."

Obviously, nuclear energy is quickly emerging as the common ground for a sharply divided congress. It's time to find some investment opportunities.

Profiting from a Nuclear Revival

The nuclear industry has been waiting for a loan guarantee announcement for some time now. Last year, the Department of Energy whittled the potential recipients down to a short list.

Here are the four companies likely to receive them:

Southern Co. (NYSE: CO)
Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG)
NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG)
SCANA Corp. (NYSE: SCG)

If you're looking for a safe way to play nuclear expansion, these companies are probably a good place to start.

Big utilities with nuclear assets — especially if they're receiving gov't incentives — will benefit as a new generation of plants are built.

According to former EPA head Christine Whitman, "If we're going to stay at 20 percent total capacity, which is where nuclear is today, by 2030, then we need between 25 and 30 nuke reactors."

So buying and holding Cameco (NYSE: CCJ), which has exposure to uranium fuel supplies, is probably also a good bet.

For riskier fuel-side bets, take a look at USEC Inc. (NYSE: USU), Uranerz Energy (AMEX: URZ), or Denison Mines (AMEX: DNN).

But the most lucrative nuclear profits may come from a concept that hardly anyone has covered: nuclear fuel additives.

You see, major universities have been studying the impact various metals have on the performance of uranium fuel. And they've found that bonding certain oxides to uranium pellets can greatly improve the operation of nuclear plants.

It allows more energy to be extracted from the nuclear fuel, which will improve the margins of plant operators. And it vastly improves thermal conductivity, improving safety by keeping the core temperature of the uranium cooler.

In anticipation of a coming nuclear bull market, I've prepared a report on the one company that has exclusive rights to the oxide process. They also own enough reserves of the rare metal required to make the oxide to power the nuclear industry for 100 years.

Testing is almost complete and the company is already in multi-billion supply talks with major nuclear fuel companies. You'll want to know about this company before the fuel is officially approved for use.

Call it like you see it,

Nick

North Dakota Oil Boom Has Early Investors Making Fortunes

"The Bakken is clearly the biggest oil play in the U.S. I think we're seeing the investment come back, and 2010 should be a pretty amazing year." -- N.D. Petroleum Council President Ron Ness

Our readers have already cashed in on 9 winning Bakken oil trades... with 7 more winning positions still open.

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Green Dividend Stocks

Now that the market has taken a sustained slide after a months-long bull run, more and more people are asking about safe green investments.

Specifically, they want to know about green dividend stocks.

Of course, dividend stocks are nothing new in the investment world. But in case you're not familiar, here's a brief recap.

What are Dividend Stocks?

When a company turns a profit, it has a few options:

It can pay down debt;
It can repurchase shares;
It can reinvest in the business; or
It can share the profit with shareholders.

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When a company chooses to share its profits with shareholders, it pays a dividend.

The dividend can vary in percentage and must be approved by the company's board of directors. The amount you receive is called a dividend yield.

My colleague Steve Christ succinctly described dividend yield in a recent Wealth Daily article:

Dividend yield is simply your rate of return from dividend payouts, exclusive of any stock price appreciation. It's calculated by dividing the dividends you receive over a year's time by the price you paid for the stock.

For example, your dividend yield is 5% if you paid $20 per share, and you receive $1 per share in dividends ($1/$20) over the 12 months following your purchase.

Dividend yield, however, is not a fixed number. It changes along with the share price. For instance, say someone else buys the same stock a week later when the share price had moved up to $25.

Instead of 5%, their dividend yield would only be 4% ($1/$25).

In short, it is a cash payout that you receive for simply being a shareholder, sort of like receiving a bonus based on a company's earnings.

What's more, dividends are taxed at a much lesser rate than other income.

During times of market angst, many investors turn to dividends because they are paid regardless of the stock's performance — especially if the company has a solid history of dividend payouts.

Are There Green Dividend Stocks?

When choosing a dividend stock, you'll want to look for its annual dividend rate. For most investors, the easiest way to do this is in the Key Statistics section on Yahoo! Finance. Take Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR) for example, the smart grid and efficiency specialist...

You'll see that it pays a $1.33 annual dividend (Rate), or 3.2% (Yield) of the current share price. That means you get $1.33 per year per share. The Yield will change based on the stock price, but the Rate will remain the same, until changed by the board of directors.

Now, some green stocks are in nascent industries like wind and solar, and haven't yet established the constant earnings and cash flow required to offer a dividend. You're probably better served by checking out larger companies like utilities, water companies, and transmission and distribution companies.

Anything above 5% yield is pretty good, but you'll want to check the company's website to see its history of payouts. General Electric (NYSE: GE), for example, has been constantly decreasing its dividend.

Here's a brief list of green dividend stocks to get you started:

ABB (NYSE: ABB)
ESCO Technologies (NYSE: ESE)
Flowserve (NYSE: FLS)
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI)
Lindsay Corp. (NYSE: LNN)
Integrys Energy (NYSE: TEG)
Ormat Technologies (NYSE: ORA)
United Technologies (NYSE: UTX)
Veolia Environment (NYSE: VE)

Call it like you see it,

Nick

Nick Hodge - Angel Publishing

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Nuclear Energy's Second Wind

Next Generation Nuclear Technology

China's Clean Energy Progress

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Chinese Cleantech Companies: Made in the USA (by China)

Notes from This Year's RETECH Expo

Sugar and Cellulosic Ethanol Stocks: Shell Bets Billions on Brazilian Ethanol Editor Sam Hopkins writes from D.C. today, where he's attending the American Council on Renewable Energy's RETECH expo, and mining the showcases and speakers for new stock picks...

Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Opens: Tennessee Plant to Turn Corn Cobs into Fuel Green Chip's Sam Hopkins reports on news of DuPont Danisco, opening a demonstration plant in Tennessee in February where cellulose-rich corn cobs and switchgrass will be converted to fuel.

Nuclear Energy Stocks

The Beginning of a Nuclear Revival

Green Dividend Stocks

Sugar and Cellulosic Ethanol Stocks: Shell Bets Billions on Brazilian Ethanol
Editor Sam Hopkins writes from D.C. today, where he's attending the American Council on Renewable Energy's RETECH expo, and mining the showcases and speakers for new stock picks...

Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Opens: Tennessee Plant to Turn Corn Cobs into Fuel
Green Chip's Sam Hopkins reports on news of DuPont Danisco, opening a demonstration plant in Tennessee in February where cellulose-rich corn cobs and switchgrass will be converted to fuel.