Driving Green; Electric Cars on the Rise at LA Auto Show – Oil Prices Might Be Down But Need to Reduce CO2 Emissions Still Driving Force

Driving Green; Electric Cars on the Rise at LA Auto Show – Oil Prices Might Be Down But Need to Reduce CO2 Emissions Still Driving Force

November 21, 2008 - Point Roberts, InvestorIdeas.com and its green investor portal Renewableenergystocks.com announce the most recent Podcast of Driving Green, discussing some of the new electric and green cars featured at the LA Auto show.

As oil and gas prices drop in the short term, the driving force behind electric cars has not diminished. Environmental impact, global warming and CO2 emissions are still concerns for consumers, industry and government. The new Obama administration has pledged to make fuel efficient cars part of their mandate. Just this week, a group of leaders called for 10% of cars to be electric by 2020, increasing to 50% by 2030 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To listen to the Podcast: click here: http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.investorideas.com/podcasts/2008/dg112108.mp3

Podcast Transcript:

This is Driving Green at Investorideas.com http://www.investorideas.com/dg/

The Los Angeles auto show showcased the future of electric cars with some new and old players in the game .Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., announced a new electric-vehicle partnership with the state of Oregon, based on Nissan’s commitment to begin offering pure electric cars in 2010 in the United States and Japan.

Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO said “We see in Oregon the vision that is evident in all the places that are eager for sustainable mobility," said Mr. Ghosn. "Demonstrating their care for the environment, the state and its partners are creating the conditions that will promote zero-emission vehicles as an attractive choice for consumers."

He also announced plans to have 10 per cent of his cars with battery electric drivelines by 2010.

BMW also showcased their new line of electric minis. The company has built 500 minis that will be leased to select customers in LA and New York prior to a larger release.

Chrysler also displayed three advanced production-intent electric vehicle prototype vehicles where they will be making their worldwide auto show debut. Chrysler's Electric Vehicles utilize three primary components- an electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power the electric-drive motor, and a controller that manages energy flow. The electric-drive system is being developed for front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive vehicle applications.

Surprisingly the green car of the year at the LA auto show was not electric or hybrid – it was Volkswagen's new Jetta TDI- a sporty diesel-powered sedan. The Jetta came in ahead of the Ford Fusion gasoline-electric hybrid and the Saturn Vue hybrid.

So with the US auto industry in a state of fear and uncertainty, it is clear that from Obama’s plan for a more fuel efficient auto industry to the LA auto show winners – green is still the color of money for the future .

To research our full list of Green Automotive Stocks - visit our stock directory at RenewableEnergyStocks.com
http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/Companies/RenewableEnergy/stock_list.asp

To research Fuel cell cars – visit Fuelcellcarnews.com within Investorideas.com

Sponsors - Featured Showcase Green Companies at Investorideas.com

OriginOil, Inc. (OTCBB: OOIL) is developing a breakthrough technology that will transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum.

Carbon Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB:CABN) is developing a breakthrough technology to transform carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the basic fuel building blocks required to produce gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other portable fuels.

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Investorideas.com Greentech Newsfeeds is Fastest Growing News Feed on site; Wind Stock News, Solar News, Biofuel News, Green Building News

Investorideas.com Greentech Newsfeeds is Fastest Growing News Feed on site; Wind Stock News, Solar News, Biofuel News, Green Building News

Global Green Marketplace- Matching Business and Investors leads as fastest growing segment of Marketplace


POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC –August 12, 2008 -www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com, a leading global investor and industry portal for the renewable energy sector within Investorideas.com reports the fast growing news feed on its site is the Renewable energy greentech news feed, currently passing the Investorideas.com newswire in terms of site traffic and traction. Additionally, the Global Green Marketplace that provides a service for investors and businesses in the sector is the fastest growing segment in the Marketplace.

InvestorIdeas.com was one of the first online investor resources providing in-depth information on renewable energy, greentech and water sectors.

“We are seeing first hand that renewable and greentech investment interest is a strong long term trend that will around for years to come “, states founder Dawn Van Zant.

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Investorideas.com Green Investor Audio Series:
Follow well- known financial columnist Michael Brush, who also writes the Insiders Corner for Investorideas.com, in a series of audio interviews/Podcasts with some of the leading CEO's, investment banking and financial leaders in the sector. Read energy writer Paulo Nery's new Green Investor column and gain insight into the sector. Additional Podcasts and articles from Investorideas.com and Renewableenergystocks.com provide investor ideas for investing green and making green!
http://www.investorideas.com/gi/

More green content –
Driving Green Podcast
Green IPO Watch
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Solar Energy Perspectives with J. Peter Lynch
The New Power Fund with Sam Jones
Clean Energy Blog
Renewable Energy Blog
Greentech Investor
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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.


About InvestorIdeas.com:
"One of the first online investor resources providing in-depth information on renewable energy, greentech and water sectors." InvestorIdeas.com is a leading global investor and industry research resource portal specialized in sector investing covering over thirty industry sectors and global markets including China, India, Middle East and Australia.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. 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.

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Cali Van Zant 800.665.0411
Email: cvanzant@investorideas.com

Renewable Energy Stocks; Geothermal Stock, Essential Innovations Technology Corp. (OTCBB: ESIV - FRANKFURT: E6S)

Renewable Energy Stocks; Geothermal Stock, Essential Innovations Technology Corp. (OTCBB: ESIV - FRANKFURT: E6S) Showcased on Investorideas.com

With Rising Energy Costs, Energy-Efficient Geoexchange Technology Nearly Doubles From 2004-2007
POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC April 24, 2008 ,www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com, a leading investor news and research portal for the renewable energy sector within Investorideas.com, presents featured showcase Geoexchange Technology Provider, Essential Innovations Technology Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: ESIV - FRANKFURT: E6S).
Geothermal energy is used for electricity production, direct use purposes, and home heating efficiency through geothermal heat pumps.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Geoexchange is the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning system available. Geoexchange.us reports, “Every 100,000 homes with geothermal heat pump systems reduce foreign oil consumption by 2.15 million barrels annually and reduce electricity consumption by 799 million kilowatt hours annually.”
With rising energy costs, the Geoexchange industry has been growing, with delivery of geothermal heat-pump systems nearly doubling between 2004 and 2007.
In a recent letter to the shareholders, Jason McDiarmid, President/CEO of Essential Innovations, stated, “Today, we are driven to the production, network expansion and ensuing training and dealer support for our proprietary geothermal heat pump technology, with such goal being supported by our supplementary business segment capable of providing unique financing options for long-term geothermal loop-field infrastructure installation and management alongside our financing partners -- these distinct objectives are representative of our overall business organizational model, and they place us in a unique position in the Geoexchange industry set.”
About Featured Geoexchange Showcase Company:
Essential Innovations Technology Corp. (OTCBB: ESIV - FRANKFURT: E6S) provides cutting-edge Geoexchange solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications as both a manufacturer of proprietary geothermal heat pump technology and as a Geoexchange energy service company. The Company was incorporated in April 2001, and it has four wholly owned subsidiaries located in British Columbia, Canada and in Hong Kong, SAR, and China.
More info can be found on the Investorideas.com Showcase page at: http://www.investorideas.com/CO/ESIV/Default.asp
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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, Blogs, and a directory of global stocks within the renewable energy, clean- tech sector.


About InvestorIdeas.com:
InvestorIdeas.com is a leading global investor and industry research resource portal specialized in sector investing covering over thirty industry sectors and global markets including China, India, the Middle East and Australia.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. 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. Essential Innovations Technology compensates Investorideas.com as a showcase company with 375,000 144 shares for a 3 month period.
Disclosure: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp , 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, Essential Innovations

Investors Flock to Renewable Energy and Efficiency Technologies

Investors Flock to Renewable Energy and Efficiency Technologies
Climate Change Worries, High Oil Prices and Government Help Top Factors Fueling Hot Renewable Energy Investment Climate

Investors Flock to Renewable Energy and Efficiency Technologies; Transactions Leap to Record $100 Billion in 2006, Says UNEP Study;Renewables Shed Fringe Image; American, European Markets DominateBut 9% of Global Investments are in China, 21% in Developing Countries

Paris, 20 June 2007 - Climate change worries coupled with high oil prices and increasing government support top a set of drivers fueling soaring rates of investment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, according to a trend analysis from the UN Environment Programme.
The report says investment capital flowing into renewable energy climbed from $80 billion in 2005 to a record $100 billion in 2006. As well, the renewable energy sector's growth "although still volatile ... is showing no sign of abating."
The report offers a host of reasons behind and insights into the world's newest gold rush, which saw investors pour $71 billion into companies and new sector opportunities in 2006, a 43% jump from 2005 (and up 158% over the last two years. The trend continues in 2007 with experts predicting investments of $85 billion this year).
In addition to the $71 billion, about $30 billion entered the sector in 2006 via mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and asset refinancing. This buy-out activity, rewarding the sector's pioneers, implies deeper, more liquid markets and is helping the sector shed its niche image, according to the report.
While renewable sources today produce about 2% of the world's energy, they now account for about 18% of world investment in power generation, with wind generation at the investment forefront. Solar and bio-fuel energy technologies grew even more quickly than wind, but from a smaller base.
Renewables now compete head-on with coal and gas in terms of new installed generating capacity and the portion of world energy produced from renewable sources is sure to rise substantially as the tens of billions of new investment dollars bear fruit.
Says UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner: "One of the new and fundamental messages of this report is that renewable energies are no longer subject to the vagaries of rising and falling oil prices—they are becoming generating systems of choice for increasing numbers of power companies, communities and countries irrespective of the costs of fossil fuels.
"The other key message is that this is no longer an industry solely dominated by developed country industries. Close to 10 per cent of investments are in China with around a fifth in total in the developing world. We will need many sustained steps towards the de-carbonizing of the global economy. It is clear that in respect to renewables those steps are getting underway."
Says Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Climate Change: "As governments prepare to launch begin a new round of post-2012 climate change-related negotiations later this year, the report clearly shows that, amid much discussion about the 'technologies of tomorrow,' the finance sector believes the existing technologies of today can and will 'decarbonize' the energy mix provided the right policies and incentives are in place at the international level."
The report represents "a strategic tool for understanding the energy sector's development in both OECD and developing countries," says Michael Liebreich, CEO of New Energy Finance Ltd, a leading provider of research and analysis on the clean energy and carbon markets, which prepared the report for UNEP's Paris-based Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative.
The report attributes the sector's boom to a range of global concerns - climate change, increasing energy demand and energy security foremost among them.
It credits as well the November 2006 U.S. mid-term elections, which confirmed renewable energy as "a mainstream issue," moving it up the political agenda.
Also spurring the sector's growth has been the persistently high price of oil - averaging more than $60 a barrel in 2006 (although one report conclusion is that the sector is becoming more independent of the price of oil).
"Growing consumer awareness of renewable energy and energy efficiency - and their longer term potential for cheaper energy, and not just greener energy - has become another fundamental driver," it says. "Most importantly governments and politicians are introducing legislation and support mechanisms to enable the sector's development."
Among the report's other key points and conclusions:
Renewable energy and efficiency markets are growing more global and enjoying easier access to capital markets; Capital is coming from the venture investment community, the stock markets and internal refinancings, signaling the sector's a shift to a more mainstream status; Risk and uncertainly can be reduced through diversification across technologies and geography; Energy efficiency is a significant but largely invisible market, attracting increasing attention as investors realize its important role in meeting rising energy demand; Capital investors are now more closely aligned with industry proponents in their views of expected growth.Wind, solar, biofuels attract greatest investment dollarsRenewable energy sectors attracting the highest investment levels are wind, solar and biofuels, "reflecting technology maturity, policy incentives and investor appetite," according to the report, adding that the NEX index (www.tsx.com/en/nex/) of clean energy stocks increased 64% in the 15 months to April.
Stock market investments in technology development, commercialization and manufacturing firms leapt 141% in 2006 compared with 2005, while venture capital and private equity investments jumped 167%. Financings of energy generation assets and capacity grew at "a more sedate 22.9%," the analysis says.
Asset financing of new generation capacity, the largest single source of renewable energy investment, accounted for nearly 40% of the $70.9 billion invested in 2006, a reflection of the sector's coming of
age, the report says. The trend continues in 2007. Most asset financing deals were in the relatively mature wind sector, with biofuels (which experienced a surge of interest in 2006) in second place.
Venture capital and private equity investors in 2006, meanwhile, poured $2.3 billion into biofuels, $1.4 billion into solar and $1.3 billion in wind, much of it to increase manufacturing capacity.
Around 40% of the capital invested in solar went towards new technology development. In biofuels, the proportion was about 20%, reflecting a surging corn-based ethanol industry in the U.S., as well as research into second generation biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol.
Renewable energy investment is almost evenly split geographically between United States and Europe. U.S. companies receive more technology and private investment (with high profile investment interest shown in biofuels during 2006 by entrepreneurs such as Vinod Khosla, Bill Gates and Richard Branson). Europe's publicly quoted companies attracted the most public stock market investment dollars: $5.7 billion compared to $3.5 billion in the U.S.
The pattern reflects the earlier arrival of enthusiasm for renewable energy in Europe and its ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, unlike the US and Australia. As well, government support is particularly strong in some European countries.
The European markets' relative maturity also helps explain its dominance of merger and acquisition activity in 2006, with deals worth more than $20 billion in 2006 compared with $8.8 billion in the U.S., many of the corporate acquisitions being made by investors from developing countries, notably India.
Comparing the renewable energy and dotcom booms, the report says the former is "underpinned by real demand and growing regulatory support (which the dotcom boom did not enjoy), considerable tangible asset backing, and increasing revenues."
Strongest growth of all worldwide has been in venture capital and private equity investment, totaling $7.1 billion in 2006, up 163% from 2005. Investment via public markets increased 140% to $10.3
billion, with initial public offerings (IPOs) of renewable energy companies particularly strong in the second and final quarters of 2006.
Most energy efficiency investment has been in early-stage funding. Venture capital and private equity investment rose 54% between 2005 and 2006 to $1.1 billion. Some merger and acquisition activity also occurred in the energy efficiency industry, notably the Australian Bayard group's $705 million acquisition of US smart-metering company Cellnet in December.
Among other insights:
Investment in sustainable energy is still mostly in OECD countries, with the US and EU together accounting for more than 70% in 2006. However, investment in developing countries is growing quickly: 21% of the global total in 2006 occurred in developing countries, compared with 15% in 2004; A healthy 9% of global investment occurred in China, helped by significant asset financing activity in wind and biomass as well as the waste sectors. Investments in China came from across the spectrum, from venture capital through to public markets, "reflecting the country's increasingly prominent position in renewable energy"; India lagged a little behind China but was the largest buyer of companies abroad in 2006, most of them in the more established European markets; Latin America took 5% of global investment, most of which financed Brazilian bio-ethanol plants; Sub-Saharan Africa notably lagged behind other regions; Global government and corporate research and development spending rose 25% to $16.3 billion; Investments in small-scale projects rose 33% from an estimated $7 billion in 2005 to $9.3 billion in 2006.Small-scale projects attract growing interest, driven partly by opportunities in developing countries, which stand to benefit most from small-scale installations (e.g. solar roof panels and micro turbines).
"The finance community has been investing at levels that imply expected disruptive change is now inevitable in the energy sector," says Eric Usher, Head of the Energy Finance Unit at UNEP's Paris-based Division of Technology Industry and Economics. "This report puts full stop to the idea of renewable energy being a fringe interest of environmentalists. It is now a mainstream commercial interest to investors and bankers alike."
"This is a powerful signal of the arrival of an alternative future for today's fossil fuel-dominated energy markets," he adds. "Signals move markets and the signal in these investment numbers is that the sustainable energy markets are becoming more liquid, more globalized and more mainstream."
This is full-scale industrial development, he added, not just a tweaking of the energy system. Growth is underpinned by a widening array of clean energy and climate policies at the federal, state and municipal levels.
With respect to the energy efficiency sector, the investment trends are harder to identify but the impacts of improving energy efficiency can be valued economically, notes Virginia Sonntag-O'Brien of UNEP's Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative (SEFI). Investments in supply side and demand side efficiency have been helping decrease global energy intensity, which on average has been dropping 1% to 1.5% per year.
Since 1990, energy efficiency has met one-half of all new demand for worldwide energy services. These savings - 3 billion tonnes of oil equivalent - have a value of $6 trillion if an average oil price of $27 is assumed. The challenge is to accelerate energy intensity improvement to levels of 2% or above, which compounded to 2030 would mean a 61% improvement from today.
Says Mohamed El-Ashry, Chair of the Renewable Energy Global Policy Network REN21: "The findings in this report are adding to the mounting evidence that renewable energy is going to play a far greater role in the energy mix than many expected."