Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Water Stocks Sector Close –Up, Water Stocks Ride the Wave of Market Strength, Nalco (NYSE:NLC) up on Earnings News

Water Stocks Sector Close –Up, Water Stocks Ride the Wave of Market Strength, Nalco (NYSE:NLC) up on Earnings News

POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC –April 29, 2009 www.Water-Stocks.com, an investor and industry portal for the water sector within Investorideas.com, presents a sector close-up on water stocks trading April 29, 2009.

Nalco (NYSE:NLC) was up on earnings news released yesterday afternoon. According to Nalco’s press release, “Even with difficult economic pressures and negative currency impacts, Nalco (NYSE:NLC - News) delivered solid first quarter revenue, earnings, and free cash flow, aided by strong cost controls.
Organic sales dipped just 3.6 percent as part of a nominal sales decline to $868 million from prior-year first quarter sales of $1 billion. Currency translation effects reduced reported sales by 8.3 percent, with divestitures accounting for the remaining 1.2 percent decline.
The stronger U.S. dollar had a similarly negative impact on earnings. Earnings per share were 17 cents in the first quarter, on net income of $23 million, compared to 20 cents in the first quarter of 2008. Organic net income increased 18 percent.”
Full Release: http://www.investorideas.com/News/042909b.asp

Sector close- up trading April 29, 2009

American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK) trading at $18.47, up $ 0.25 (1.37%) 1:57pm ET
ITT Corporation (NYSE:ITT) trading at $ 42.03, up $1.54 (3.80%) 1:54pm ET
Middlesex Water Company (NasdaqGS: MSEX) trading at $14.17, up $ 0.23 (1.65%) 11:39am ET
Nalco (NYSE:NLC) trading at $15.81, up $1.24 (8.51%) 2:00pm ET
Northwest Pipe (NasdaqGS: NWPX) trading at $38.14, up $0.97 (2.61%) 1:46pm ET
Pentair, Inc. (NYSE: PNR) trading at $26.68, up $0.91 (3.53%) 2:01pm ET
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS ) trading at $22.79, up 0.02 (0.09%) 2:02pm ET
Wescorp Energy Inc. (OTCBB: WSCE ) trading at $0.2950, down 0.0150 (4.84%)
PFW Water Fund (PFWAX) trading up .14%

Research more global water stocks at the water Stocks Directory:
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

Featured Water Stocks Showcase Company: Wescorp Energy Inc. (OTCBB: WSCE )
Wescorp Energy Inc. (OTCBB: WSCE) is an Oil and Gas solutions provider focused on deploying its water remediation and environmental technologies that overcome tough operational challenges facing oil and gas operators today on a global basis. Virtually anywhere in the world oil is produced contaminated water is produced, this includes associated formation water in conventional oil and gas production and potable water used in unconventional oil production such as the massive Oil Sands development in Alberta Canada.
Using conventional oil/water/solids separation technology, between 0.05% - 5% (500 ppm - 50,000 ppm) residual oil content remains in the water, Wescorp's patented, proven and highly scalable H2Omaxx microscopic aeration technology addresses this crisis by being able to increase the recovery of oil and reduce the amount of hydrocarbons in the contaminated water to less than 0.001% or 10 ppm. Wescorp's H2Omaxx is extremely economical and environmentally friendly eliminating the use of chemicals, filtration systems, high temperature systems and high pressure vessels.
Wescorp Energy Inc Showcase Profile Page: http://www.water-stocks.com/CO/WSCE/Default.asp
Wescorp Energy Inc Company Website: http://www.wescorpenergy.com/

www.Water-Stocks.com, a portal within the InvestorIdeas.com content umbrella, offers investors research tools, news, Blogs, online conferences, Podcasts , interviews and a directory of public companies within the water sector .The water-stocks content hub has created a global marketplace and meeting place for investors, public companies, industry buyers and sellers of water technology, services and water assets.
Investing in Water Podcast RSS Feed: http://www.investorideas.com/Podcasts/water.xml

Submit water stock news: click here

Marketplace water opportunities for business and investors:
Sign up here: http://www.investorideas.com/marketplace/signup.asp

About InvestorIdeas.com:
Investorideas.com creates a meeting place for investing ideas to take form and come to life in an entrepreneurial environment, servicing the needs of small investors and start- up companies to large conglomerates! We cover multiple industry sectors but specialize in environmental and water.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured showcase companies (WSCE), news submissions and online advertising. Compensation Disclosure and disclaimers:
www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp http://www.investorideas.com/About/News/Clientspecifics.asp

For More Information Contact:
Water-stocks.com
Dawn Van Zant 800-665-0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com
Web Site: www.InvestorIdeas.com www.water-stocks.com

Source: Water-Stocks.com, Investorideas.com








News & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog
Research Renewable Energy and water stocks as an Investor Ideas member and gain access to global stock directories.
Membership sign-up- http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Solar Stocks News- SunPower Announces Offerings of 9,000,000 Shares of Class A Common Stock and $175 Million of Senior Convertible Debentures

Solar Stocks News- SunPower Announces Offerings of 9,000,000 Shares of Class A Common Stock and $175 Million of Senior Convertible Debentures


SAN JOSE, Calif., April 27 -- SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWRA; SPWRB), a Silicon Valley-based provider of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels, and solar systems, today announced that it intends to offer 9,000,000 shares of class A common stock and $175 million aggregate principal amount of senior convertible debentures due 2014, in underwritten registered public offerings. In connection with these offerings, SunPower intends to grant the underwriters an overallotment option with respect to an additional 1,350,000 shares of class A common stock and an additional $26.25 million aggregate principal amount of senior convertible debentures. Based on the closing price of SunPower's class A common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on April 24, 2009, the offerings (without giving effect to any exercise of the overallotment options) are expected to result in aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $400 million.

The debentures will be convertible into shares of SunPower's class A common stock. The interest rate, conversion rate, conversion price and other terms of the debentures will be determined at the time of the pricing of the offering. The debentures will be senior, unsecured obligations, ranking equally with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of SunPower. The debentures will be effectively subordinated to the company's secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the related collateral and structurally subordinated to indebtedness and other liabilities of SunPower's subsidiaries.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. will serve as joint book-running managers for the offerings.

In connection with the offering of senior convertible debentures, SunPower plans to enter into convertible debenture hedge and warrant transactions with affiliates of certain of the underwriters. The convertible debenture hedge transactions are intended to reduce the potential dilution upon conversion of the senior convertible debentures. SunPower expects that the counterparties will enter into various over-the-counter derivative transactions with respect to SunPower's class A common stock concurrently with, or shortly after, the pricing of the senior convertible debenture offering and may unwind or enter into various over-the-counter derivatives and/or purchase SunPower's class A common stock in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the senior convertible debenture offering. These activities could have the effect of increasing or preventing a decline in the price of SunPower's class A common stock concurrently with or following the pricing of the senior convertible debenture offering.

SunPower intends to use approximately $20 million to $22 million of the proceeds from these offerings to pay the cost of these convertible debenture hedge and warrant transactions. The company also intends to use the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures. From time to time, SunPower will evaluate potential acquisitions and strategic transactions of business, technologies, or products, and may use a portion of the net proceeds for such acquisitions or transactions. Currently, however, the company does not have any agreements with respect to any such material acquisitions or strategic transactions. If the underwriters exercise their overallotment option with respect to the senior convertible debentures, SunPower intends to use a portion of the proceeds therefrom to increase the size of the convertible note hedge transactions and for general corporate purposes, and may also sell additional warrants.

SunPower may use a portion of the proceeds from these offerings to repurchase some of its outstanding 1.25% debentures or 0.75% debentures. The company expects that holders of its outstanding 1.25% debentures or 0.75% debentures from whom it may repurchase such debentures (which holders may include one or more of the underwriters), may have outstanding short hedge positions in its class A common stock relating to such debentures. Upon repurchase, SunPower expects that such holders will unwind or offset those hedge positions by purchasing class A common stock in secondary market transactions, including purchases in the open market, and/or entering into various derivative transactions with respect to our class A common stock. These activities could have the effect of increasing, or preventing a decline in, the market price of our class A common stock. The effect, if any, of any of these transactions and activities on the market price of its class A common stock or the debentures will depend in part on market conditions and cannot be ascertained at this time, but may be material.

The closing of each offering is not contingent on the closing of the other.

A registration statement has been filed, and a separate preliminary prospectus supplement for each of the class A common stock and senior convertible debenture offerings will be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to which this communication relates. Prospective investors should read the applicable preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus included in that registration statement and other documents SunPower has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the company and these offerings. These documents are available at no charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the prospectus, the class A common stock prospectus supplement and the senior convertible debenture prospectus supplement may be obtained from Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010, (tel): 1 800-221-1037 and/or Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Attention: Prospectus Department, 100 Plaza One, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311, (tel): 1 800-503-4611.

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offerings of these securities will be made only by means of applicable prospectus supplements and the related prospectus. The securities being offered have not been approved or disapproved by any regulatory authority, nor has any such authority passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the registration statement, the prospectus contained therein or the applicable prospectus supplement.

NOTE: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the offerings (including the size of the offerings and whether the offerings will be completed), the use of proceeds from the offerings, and the effects of the related debenture hedge and warrant transactions (including their effect on our stock price and whether the hedge and warrant transactions will be completed). Forward-looking statements are statements that do not represent historical facts. We use words such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "expect," "anticipated," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those predicted in such forward-looking statements include market conditions, the behavior of our hedge counterparties, potential fluctuations in SunPower's stock price, management's broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds of the offering, or changes in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or in their interpretation. Certain of these risks and others are detailed from time to time in SunPower's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2008 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 29, 2009.

SunPower is a registered trademark of SunPower Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.







News & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog
Research Renewable Energy and water stocks as an Investor Ideas member and gain access to global stock directories.
Membership sign-up- http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

Thursday, April 23, 2009

T. Boone Pickens Applauds California’s Adoption of Low Carbon Fuel Standard

T. Boone Pickens Applauds California’s Adoption of Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Dallas—April 23, 2009 – T. Boone Pickens offered the following comment on today’s adoption of the nation’s first Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) in California:

“I am very supportive of the California Air Resources Board’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard adopted today. It will greatly reduce our dependency on foreign oil by promoting alternative fuels that are low in carbon, such as natural gas and biomethane, into the market. Reducing greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants is the right step to take for our health, our economy and our security. .

Making the best use of our abundant domestic energy resources such as natural gas to replace imported oil is a major component of the Pickens Plan. The LCFS—a market-driven effort that requires no taxpayer dollars—gives consumers greater choice to buy American at the pump.”


About the Pickens Plan

Unveiled on July 8, 2008 by T. Boone Pickens, the Pickens Plan is a detailed solution for ending the United States’ growing dependence on foreign oil. Earlier in 2008, when oil prices reached $140/barrel, America was spending about $700 billion for foreign oil, equaling the greatest transfer of wealth in human history. That figure has decreased some while oil prices have retreated, but the U.S. is still dependent on foreign nations for nearly 70 percent of its oil, representing a continuing national economic and national security threat. The plan calls for investing in power generation from domestic renewable resources such as wind and using our abundant supplies of natural gas as a transportation fuel, replacing more than one-third of our imported oil.

More than 1,500,000 people have joined the Pickens Army through the website www.pickensplan.com , which has had over 15,000,000 hits.






News & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog
Research Renewable Energy and water stocks as an Investor Ideas member and gain access to global stock directories.
Membership sign-up- http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

Invitation to Public Companies in Renewable Energy, Water, and Environment to Participate in Investor Content at Investorideas.com – one of the first

Invitation to Public Companies in Renewable Energy, Water, and Environment to Participate in Investor Content at Investorideas.com – one of the first investor research resources covering the sectors


Delta B.C., April 24, 2009 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a leading global investor and industry research portal invites investor content participation from public companies in the green sector.
We would like to introduce, if you are not already familiar with Investorideas.com and our green investor portals within our hub- www.Environmentstocks.com, www.Water-stocks.com,
www.Renewablenergystocks.com and www.Fuelcellcarnews.com.

Investorideas.com was one of the first investor portals covering the renewable energy and water sectors. Our sites attract a global audience of green investors from small retail investors to a more sophisticated list of media, funds, analysts, brokers and industry leaders.

Our site connects you to an audience specifically searching for green investing options. From our stock directories, to news, articles and company showcases, investors can use our site to make their own investment decisions.

We invite you to be part of our green investor content:

Green Public Company and Business Services
Renewable Energy Stocks, Water and Green Stocks Investor Awareness - click here
Submit Green News and Press Releases online - click here
Submit Green Industry Articles and White Papers - Free – click here
Send us Your company description for our stock directories- Free- email us click here Submit Company Profile Online- click here
Green Company Showcase - click here
Global Green Marketplace - click here
Green Text Links Online –click here
Green Ads - click here

About InvestorIdeas.com: Investorideas.com creates a meeting place for investing ideas to take form and come to life in an entrepreneurial environment, servicing the needs of small investors and start- up companies to large conglomerates! We cover multiple industry sectors but specialize in environmental and water.

Dawn L. Van Zant - PresidentToll Free: (800) 665-0411Email dvanzant@investorideas.com






News & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog
Research Renewable Energy and water stocks as an Investor Ideas member and gain access to global stock directories.
Membership sign-up- http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

Water Stocks Sector Close- Up; Environmental Impact of Produced Water in Oil and Gas Industry

Water Stocks Sector Close- Up; Environmental Impact of Produced Water in Oil and Gas Industry

How Nature Group (LSE: NGR-GB.L), Siemens (NYSE: SI) Water Technologies and Wescorp Energy Inc. (OTCBB: WSCE) are providing Solutions for the Oil and Gas Industry


Point Roberts, WA, Delta, BC - April 23, 2009 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a leading global investor and industry research portal covering water, environment and oil and gas sectors, presents a water stocks sector close-up on produced water in the oil and gas industry, problems and solutions. Publicly traded companies providing solutions include Nature Group (LSE: NGR-GB.L), Siemens (NYSE: SI) Water Technologies and Wescorp Energy Inc. (OTCBB: WSCE ).

According to the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of DOE’s national laboratory system, approximately 15-20 billion bbl (barrels; 1 bbl = 42 U.S. gallons) of produced water are generated each year in the United States from nearly a million wells, and more than 50 billion bbl of produced water are generated each year at thousands of wells in other countries.

As water and environmental issues now play a major role in the future of the oil and gas industry, here is how three public companies are coming up with solutions.

Wescorp Energy Inc. (OTCBB:WSCE) an oil and gas solutions provider of water remediation and environmental technologies , announced in December 08, that Weatherford International Ltd., (NYSE: WFT) had executed a letter of intent for the testing of Wescorp's wholly-owned water remediation technology, H2Omaxx, in two projects in South America. H2Omaxx is a water remediation unit that consistently provides safe, effective and economical separation of oil from produced water.

When asked if Wescorp Energy (OTCBB: WSCE ) technology works for all produced water applications, on shore and off shore, Dave LeMoine, Vice President of Business Development commented, “In general the answer would be yes, Wescorp’s technology has been independently proven to have a high level of scalability and effectiveness, allowing it to be used on a single well to multi well applications or projects such as Offshore Platforms or in conventional or unconventional oil development such as the Oilsands in Alberta. Wescorp gives the oil companies three streams, Clean water Clean solids and Ultrafines and resalable oil
The client problem could be environmental, cost related, regulatory compliancy, revenue generated, process improvement based, or a host of other issues. “

According to NATURE GROUP’s (LSE:NGR-GB.L), CEO, Richard Eldridge, “ There is now wide agreement within the petroleum industry, governments and scientists that focus should now be put on dissolved organic components, heavy metals and production chemicals. The oil in water content shall be as low as possible and the industry shall make use of best available technology (BAT).”

The Nature process for treatment of produced water is based on addition of patented
coagulant/flocculant in existing or partially modified water systems. The agent is injected
into the produced water upstream a static mixer or various process equipment (pumps,
valves etc.) to provide sufficient in- mixing. The agent separates dispersed and dissolved
hydrocarbons and is floated and skimmed off in a flotation vessel downstream the in-mixing
point.

SIEMENS A G ADR (NYSE: SI) Siemens Water Technologies was recently selected by Petro-Canada to provide a system for treating coal-bed-methane (CBM) produced water at the Mitchell Draw CBM Project near Gillette, Wyoming, USA. The system will treat 72,000 barrels per day (3 MGD) of CBM produced water, removing contaminants like sodium (Na) and total dissolved solids (TDS), which will allow the plant to meet current state regulatory requirements.
Siemens states it has 750 onshore and offshore produced water treatment systems, treating about 6 million barrels of water per day.

According to Eddy Isaacs, managing director of the Alberta Energy Research Institute, “Companies now have to worry about the environment as much as they need to worry about their production.” *1

So What is Produced Water?
The US Department of the Interior defines Produced water as “mainly salty water trapped in the reservoir rock and brought up along with oil or gas during production. It can contain very minor amounts of chemicals added downhole during production. These waters exist under high pressures and temperatures, and usually contain oil and metals. Because of this, they must be treated prior to being discharged overboard. As with drilling muds, following treatment, they must be tested for toxicity and cannot exceed set discharge rates.”

Most produced waters contain combinations or mixture of: Dissolved inorganic salts, dispersed oil droplets, dissolved organic compounds (dissolved "oil"),treatment and workover chemicals dissolved gases (particularly hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide),bacteria and other living organisms, and dispersed solid particles.

The Produced Water Society reports, “The ability to efficiently and economically dispose of this water is critical to the success in the oil production business. “

Learn more about produced water solutions:
Featured Showcase Water Stock:
Wescorp Energy Inc Showcase Profile Page:
http://www.water-stocks.com/CO/WSCE/Default.asp
Wescorp Energy Inc Company Website: http://www.wescorpenergy.com/

www.Water-Stocks.com is an investor research portal within the InvestorIdeas.com content umbrella covering water stocks.
Visit the Water stocks directory: http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

About InvestorIdeas.com: Investorideas.com creates a meeting place for investing ideas to take form and come to life in an entrepreneurial environment, servicing the needs of small investors and start- up companies to large conglomerates! We cover multiple industry sectors but specialize in environmental and water.

*1Source: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Innovations+pave+cleaner+oilsands/1508350/story.html

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of Investorideas.com. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, including WSCE, news submissions and online advertising. www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp
Disclosure, compensation: http://www.investorideas.com/About/News/Clientspecifics.asp
$3500 month plus fifteen thousand shares, three months contract with third party.

For Additional Information:
Investorideas.com
Dawn Van Zant: 800-665-0411 - dvanzant@investorideas.com
Source – Wescorp Energy Inc, Investorideas.com, NATURE GROUP

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

SunEdison Signs REC Solar as First Channel Partner

SunEdison Signs REC Solar as First Channel Partner
Solar Channel Partner Program Delivers SunEdison Financing Strength and PV System Management to Partners’ Commercial-Scale Project Development

BELTSVILLE, Md.--April 22 2009 --SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy services provider, today announced that national integrator REC Solar has been signed as the company’s first channel partner.

SunEdison’s solar channel partner program provides national installers and integrators increased project financing capabilities, including the ability to deliver projects via a solar power purchase agreement. In addition, for photovoltaic solar energy systems developed under the program, SunEdison will provide service, maintenance and monitoring through the company’s advanced control and management technologies.

“We are excited to partner with SunEdison and to benefit from the expertise they bring in structuring and financing large scale solar projects. Together, we can help government agencies, utilities and commercial customers generate clean solar energy with no upfront capital costs while creating jobs in our local communities,” said Matthew Woods, Vice President of Sales and Business Development at REC Solar. REC Solar is based in San Luis Obispo, California.

Brian Jacolick, GM Americas, SunEdison noted, “We’re building long-term sustainable partnerships through our solar channel partners program. This program will result in more systems installed – and thus more local jobs for the industry and for our partners. Our partners bring the on-the-ground expertise and share our commitment to deliver PV solar energy systems that meet rigorous engineering and construction standards.”

Cory Vaughan, Director Channel Sales, SunEdison noted, “Customers have the best of both worlds. They benefit from our partners’ expertise and will realize more financial and energy savings through SunEdison’s approach to long-term solar energy system management.”

Solar channel partners must exceed two years of installation experience on commercial-scale systems and meet industry-standard design and construction requirements.

About SunEdison

Sun Edison LLC is North America’s largest solar energy services provider and operates across a global marketplace. SunEdison provides solar-generated energy at or below current retail utility rates to a broad and diverse client base of commercial, municipal and utility customers. For more information about SunEdison, please visit www.sunedison.com

Contacts For Sun Edison LLCRob Wyse, 212-920-1470rob@mediafirstpr.com





News & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog
Research Renewable Energy and water stocks as an Investor Ideas member and gain access to global stock directories.
Membership sign-up- http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

Renewablenergystocks.com Earth Day Solar Innovation Series with J. Peter Lynch; Announcing Today- Solar Energy is FREE !!!!!!!!!

Renewablenergystocks.com Earth Day Solar Innovation Series with J. Peter Lynch; Announcing Today- Solar Energy is FREE !!!!!!!!!


Point Roberts, South Salem, New York- April 22, 2009- Investorideas.com and its leading green investor portal, Renewableenergystocks.com announce the second edition of the new solar innovation series within “Renewable and Solar Energy Perspectives” with J. Peter Lynch. Just in time for Earth Day, Mr. Lynch tells solar investors and consumers what they want to hear about solar innovation.

Announcing Today: Solar Energy is FREE !!!!!!!!!
J. Peter Lynch
Read More Peter Lynch Solar Commentary: http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/PL/
Subscribe to the Peter Lynch solar RSS feed: http://www.investorideas.com/RSS/feeds/PL.xml
Exclusively for www.InvestorIdeas.com and www.Renewableenergystocks.com

The second in our “Solar Innovation Series” is a creative financial innovation that could sweep the nation and literally make SOLAR ENERGY for all practical purposes FREE to the average homeowner. It does NOT need a string of technical breakthroughs or new scientific discoveries all it needed is a little bit of financial innovation – simple as that.
If making money by investing in energy efficiency improvements and solar systems for our homes is so obviously needed and is also a good investment. Why do so few of us move forward and do it?
Well, that answer is very simple. It cost too much since ALL the payment is UP FRONT. Think about it, if we all had to buy our homes and cars with CASH up front how many of us would do it? Buying power from your local electric utility is a simple, pay-as-you-go service. Solar, on the other hand, requires tens of thousands of dollars up front and a long-term commitment to see a return on investment.
How about making SOLAR, pay-as-you-go-too? What if you could get some benefits right away and also not have to pay for 20+ years of power up front? Well, the City of Berkeley, California is now pioneering what many experts believe may be just such a solution: Berkeley FIRST. Berkeley launched the program in November 2008. The initial pool of funding was made available to property owners and sold out in less than ten minutes.

full article -
http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/PL/news/042209a.asp



News & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog
Research Renewable Energy and water stocks as an Investor Ideas member and gain access to global stock directories.
Membership sign-up- http://www.investorideas.com/membership
/

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Despite credit crunch, the solar photovoltaic industry is more than ever ready for further growth

Despite credit crunch, the solar photovoltaic industry is more than ever ready for further growth

Brussels, 15 April 2009
Speakers at EPIA’s 3rd International Conference on Solar Photovoltaic Investments confirmed that, like all industries, the solar photovoltaic (PV) sector has not been spared by the credit crunch. Medium to large scale PV plants are taking longer to be financed than ever before. They also stressed that the fundamentals of the PV sector remain intact, if not better than before, considering the price decrease of PV modules between 10 % and 20% since the beginning of 2009.

Lack of finance availability temporary slows down activities

Given the current world uncertainties, all banks have strongly reduced their credit loans and the solar PV sector has not escaped the trend. Project financing thus appears as a challenge for the industry. While it required around 4 weeks to obtain debt financing in 2008, today it takes 8 to 10 weeks, on average.
The perceived risk is higher, so that fewer banks are engaged and they prefer smaller projects (less than 50 million euros). If the situation differs in all countries, PV pricing remains crucial. Companies being able to reduce their prices and technology leaders should be the most successful. Experts also confirm that high-quality PV projects meeting all legal requirements, from the planning to the operating phase, will be financed.
“Financing is possible, but you need to be realistic” states Christian T. Junior from Commerzbank. Investors are very selective due to the low finance availability, but they still see PV as a fantastic sector to invest in, both in PV projects and PV companies. Utilities such as EWE also underline the huge potential PV represents for them and their willingness to engage more.

A reliable, calculable and low-risk investment

Given the government support programmes (mainly Feed-in Tariffs) providing investor security in the long-term and warranties from module manufacturers, solar PV represents a low-risk investment. PV is a proven technology with a module lifetime of 25 to 40 years whereas the economic payback time of the investment is generally between 8 to 12 years.
PV is a secure, reliable and calculable investment over the years. With PV, we know how much energy we produce for at least 25 years, we know how much we receive from the Feed-in Tariff, so that we can forecast our revenues over 20-25 years. “Investing in a PV system is like buying a car with a tank which is always full” said Hubert Aulich from PV Crystalox Solar.

PV modules back on the learning curve

Due to the polysilicon shortage, PV has been above its historical learning curve[1] over the last 3-4 years. Seeing a major increase in polysilicon production, average polysilicon prices have decreased significantly and are driving general costs down for silicon-based technologies.

In addition, the industry unanimously recognised the module oversupply situation in today’s PV market. As a result, module prices have dropped by 10% to 20% since the beginning of the year and this is very good news for the PV sector in general. We can consider that “PV technology is now back on its learning curve”, said Dr. Winfried Hoffmann, EPIA President.

A strong commitment from the industry

The PV industry hopes finance availability will improve in the coming months. In any case, PV fundamentals remain strong and the industry is committed to accelerating price decrease and expects further penetration of the existing PV markets and an accelerated market development in new and emerging PV markets. In this context, the European PV industry has unanimously agreed that photovoltaic energy could provide up to 12% of European electricity demand by 2020 and is strongly committed to becoming a significant energy supplier in Europe.
“Through this commitment and under the right framework conditions, we are able to reduce PV generation costs by 8% every year. This represents a decrease of 50% every 8 years - a sexy promise for investors” concludes Hoffmann.


Organised in partnership with the Deutsche Börse Group, this 2-day conference gathered together investors and potential business partners in the financial city of Frankfurt on 7-8 April 2009. The event also provided great networking opportunities.
Presentations are available at: http://www.pvinvestmentconference.org/index.php?id=18



Note to editors

With more than 200 Members drawn from across the entire solar electricity sector, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association is the world’s largest photovoltaic industry association and represents about 95% of the European photovoltaic industry. EPIA members are present throughout the whole value-chain: from silicon, cells and module production to systems development. EPIA’s mission is to deliver a distinct and valuable service driven from the strength of a single photovoltaic voice.

For more information:

Sophie Lenoir - Media Relations. Tel: +32 (0)2 400 10 54. E-mail: s.lenoir@epia.org
[1] Price of photovoltaics is reduced by 20% each time there is a doubling of the cumulative installed capacity.







News & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog
Research Renewable Energy and water stocks as an Investor Ideas member and gain access to global stock directories.
Membership sign-up- http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Renewable Energy Stocks Sector Close-Up on Solar Stocks

Renewable Energy Stocks Sector Close-Up on Solar Stocks

SunPower Corporation (NasdaqGS: SPWRA) trading at $ 25.94, up $ 2.54 (10.85%)


POINT ROBERTS, WA —April 9, 2009, 2009 -- www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com,
a leading investor news and research portal for the renewable energy sector within Investorideas.com, presents a sector close-up on solar stocks trading April 9, 2009.
SunPower Corporation (NasdaqGS: SPWRA) was trading at $ 25.94, up $ 2.54 (10.85%) 2:03pm ET.

SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWRA) designs, manufactures and delivers high-performance solar electric systems worldwide for residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant customers. SunPower high-efficiency solar cells and solar panels generate up to 50 percent more power than conventional solar technologies and have a uniquely attractive, all-black appearance.

Renewable Energy Stocks solar expert, J. Peter Lynch commented, “Solar Stocks are still down for the last quarter, but are quietly starting to show some significant technical strength. A month ago only 3 of the 21 stocks we follow was trading over its 50 day moving average, today 16 of 21 are trading above their 50 day moving average. In addition a month ago NONE of our stock had positive momentum, now 20 of our 21 stocks have positive momentum. It looks like the market is really starting to discount the slower growth projected for 2009 and looking ahead to a strong 2010 and 2011.”

Read solar stocks commentary and the latest column of “Renewable and Solar Energy Perspectives” with J. Peter Lynch at http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/PL/ . Read his newest columns, the Solar Innovations series, looking at private companies in the sector.

Solar investors can also track the Ardour Solar Energy Index (^SOLRX) (Market, News), a compilation of global solar energy stocks in three primary solar energy sectors: Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal, and Solar Lighting for sector indications.

Solar Stocks Sector Close-Up, Trading April 9, 2009

Akeena Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:AKNS) trading at $ 1.25, up %0.08 (6.84%) 1:43pm ET
Evergreen Solar Inc (NASDAQ:ESLR) trading at $ 2.22, up $ 0.09 (4.23%) 1:58pm ET
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) trading at $ 142.50, gains of $ 6.81 (5.02%) 2:00pm ET
JA Solar (Nasdaq: JASO) trading at $ 3.39, up $ 0.23 (7.28%) 2:00pm ET
LDK Solar ADR (NYSE: LDK) trading at $8.09, up $0.35 (4.52%) 2:00pm ET
SunPower Corporation (NasdaqGS: SPWRA) trading at $ 25.94, up $ 2.54 (10.85%) 2:03pm ET
Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) trading at $12.98, up $ 0.70 (5.70%) 2:04pm ET
Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE) trading at $7.20, up $0.62 (9.42%) 2:07pm ET
XsunX Inc: (OTCBB: XSNX) last at $0.16, up 3.33%

For investors following solar stocks, the RenewableEnergyStocks.com website provides a comprehensive list of photovoltaic and solar stocks to research.
http://www.investorideas.com/Companies/RenewableEnergy/Stock_List.asp

Featured Showcase Solar Stock:

XsunX Inc. (OTCBB: XSNX)
Based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., XsunX is developing amorphous silicon thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell manufacturing processes to produce TFPV solar modules. To deliver its products the Company has begun to build a multi- megawatt TFPV solar module production facility in the United States to meet the growing demand for solar cell products used in large scale commercial projects, utility power fields, and other on-grid applications. Employing a phased roll out of production capacity, it plans to grow manufacturing capacities to over 100 megawatts as soon as possible. More info on XsunX, Inc. can be found on our media profile at: http://www.investorideas.com/co/xsnx/default.asp or http://www.xsunx.com/


About Our Green Investor Portals:
www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com® is one of several green investor portals within Investorideas.com and provides investors with stock news, exclusive articles and financial columnists, audio interviews, investor conferences and a directory of stocks within the renewable energy sector.

Submit green news and press releases: click here

Renewable Energy Stocks Directory and water stocks directory:
Gain Exclusive Insight on Leading Sectors, Global Trends, and Insider Trading Ideas, News, Articles and Investor Ideas Members only Restricted Content including the complete renewable energy stocks directory. Learn more: http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

About InvestorIdeas.com:
Investorideas.com creates a meeting place for investing ideas to take form and come to life in an entrepreneurial environment, servicing the needs of small investors and start- up companies to large conglomerates! We cover multiple industry sectors but specialize in environmental and water.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. Disclosure: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp
Compensation disclosure for XSNX
http://www.investorideas.com/About/News/Clientspecifics.asp

For more information contact:

Dawn Van Zant 800.665.0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com
Source: RenewableEnergyStocks.com, Investorideas.com, XSNX/

Monday, April 06, 2009

Spire Semiconductor to Develop 42% Efficient Concentrator Solar Cells

Spire Semiconductor to Develop 42% Efficient Concentrator Solar Cells

NREL awards Spire Semiconductor a contract to develop triple junction 42% efficiency concentrator cells. Technology developed will provide the processing platform for Spire’s “Triathlon” series of commercial concentrator solar cells.

BEDFORD, Mass.--April 6 2009 --Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Spire Semiconductor, LLC, has been awarded an 18-month, $3,706,359 program by the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), consisting of $2,960,850 in government funding and a $745,509 cost share. Under the contract, Spire Semiconductor will develop next-generation manufacturing technology to produce 42% efficient III-V three junction tandem concentrator solar cells.

Edward D. Gagnon, General Manager of Spire Semiconductor, stated, “We are pleased that NREL selected Spire to participate in this highly competitive Photovoltaic (PV) Technology Incubator program, whose goal is to shorten the timeline for companies to transition prototype and pre-commercial PV technologies into pilot and full-scale manufacture. Our new growth technique has the potential for producing concentrator cells with record-level efficiencies with lower manufacturing costs and higher reliability.”

Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation, added, “Spire has been involved in the solar energy market for over 25 years. Development of this cell will put us in an excellent position to capitalize on the growing market opportunity for custom gallium arsenide (GaAs) based solar cells for Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) systems. Our Spire Semiconductor facility has state-of-the-art capabilities for producing these devices. We plan to offer our new series of triple junction “Triathlon” concentrator solar cells to system integrators around the world.”

About Spire Corporation

Spire Corporation is a global solar company providing turnkey production lines and capital equipment to manufacture PV modules and cells worldwide. Spire Semiconductor is a compound semiconductor foundry specializing in wafer epitaxy and device fabrication, including custom GaAs cells for solar concentrator systems. Spire Semiconductor also provides processing technology for Spire’s silicon solar cell manufacturing lines. For corporate or product information, contact Spire Corporation, “The Turnkey Solar Factory Company,” at 781-275-6000, or visit www.spirecorp.com or visit Spire Semiconductor, LLC at www.spiresemi.com.

Certain matters described in this news release may be forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk of dependence on market growth, competition and dependence on government agencies and other third parties for funding contract research and services, as well as other factors described in the Company's Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts Spire Semiconductor, LLCBrad Siskavich, 603-595-8900Solar Business Development Manager




News & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog
Research Renewable Energy and water stocks as an Investor Ideas member and gain access to global stock directories.
Membership sign-up- http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

USA to become the world's largest solar energy market

USA to become the world's largest solar energy market
Solar energy becoming a cost-effective way of generating electricity in California

Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Munich, Germany 1 April 2009 Press release

"In 2010, PV will be by far the most cost-effective way of generating electricity. The solar PV market in California will explode once people discover that they can generate their own rooftop power for less than it costs from their utility,” says Barry Cinnamon, long-term expert, CEO and founder of solar system integrator Akeena Solar in California. In 2008 the US PV market grew by over 60% to more than 350 MW of newly installed solar power. The majority of this new power was built in California. Barry Cinnamon is one of several CEOs to speak on 26 May in Munich at the international conference entitled "The Solar Future; count-down to grid parity".

Energy utility companies like PG&E in California are developing a large-scale solar PV power plant program. David Rubin is a director at PG&E, and he will be discussing the details of PG&E’s proposed program. David is also chairman of the board of SEPA (the Solar Electric Power Association), representing 500 US electric utilities, solar companies and other industry stakeholders in the USA. He sees a significant number of energy utilities proceeding with various solar business models, including large-scale PV power plant initiatives. "SEPA has tracked 1500 MW in solar PV initiatives in the USA, and this number is growing".

In 2009, the USA is on the way to becoming the second largest photovoltaic solar energy market in the world after Germany. The Obama administration has introduced a new Renewable Energy stimulus package and financial incentives are guaranteed for the next 8 years. "The US market has the potential to grow by more than 50% a year, which could lead to a market close to 4000 MW within 5 years," according to Edwin Koot, CEO of SolarPlaza. "The USA is likely to become the world's largest PV market within a decade. The solar industry is counting down towards the moment government aid is no longer needed. The moment when this fledgling industry will have grown up and is standing on its own feet is closer than many people think," says Koot. "It will mark the start of the Solar Future and will offer unprecedented market and growth potential".

Apart from David Rubin, CEOs from the world's leading PV companies (such as Q-Cells, Suntech Power, Applied Materials and Centrotherm) will be speaking at "The Solar Future" conference organized by SolarPlaza.

http://www.solarplaza.com/article/solar-energy-becoming-a-cost-effective-way-of-gene

Note to editors, not for publication For more information contact: Johan Trip, CGO of SolarPlaza, on +31 (0)10-2809198, or e-mail: j.trip@solarplaza.com.

Johan Trip CGO solarplaza






News & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog
Research Renewable Energy and Cleantech stocks as an Investor Ideas member and gain access to the stock directories.
Member sign-up- http://www.investorideas.com/membership/