QUICK NEWS, July 11: STOCKS WORTH WATCHING; WIND MAKER WILL FUND CAPE WIND; SUN DIVERSIFYING; COLORADO’S NEW ENERGY ECONOMY

STOCKS WORTH WATCHING
Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2011: Q2 Update
Tom Konrad, July 3, 2011 (Seeking Alpha)

"Some investors buy clean energy stocks because it's the right thing to do, others because we know that the diminishing availability and increasing environmental impacts of traditional fuels will eventually force society to adopt more sustainable solutions…

"Although a few investors can outperform the market over the long run, the vast majority can't, and no one consistently produces superior results, year in and year out…[except] Bernie Madoff…"

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"…Investing because it makes you feel good is a fairly reliable way to get into trouble in the stock market…All those investors buying to make themselves feel good are probably driving the stock price up beyond what the company is worth, which will be a long term drag on returns…

"Both those truths are on display as I look back on the first half performance of my annual list of ten clean energy stocks…"


WIND MAKER WILL FUND CAPE WIND
Siemens Willing to Finance Cape Wind as U.S. Postpones Backing, CFO Says
Brian Wingfield, June 21, 2011 (Bloomberg News)

"Siemens AG, Europe’s largest engineering company, is willing to provide financing for the first U.S. offshore-wind farm even though the Energy Department has delayed support, the company’s chief financial officer said."

[Josef Kaeser, Chief Financial Officer, Siemens:] “We’ve always made it clear that we are not only willing but also capable of helping to support the whole project…”

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"Siemens of Munich has offered to provide debt and equity financing for the proposed Cape Wind project, which would be located off the Massachusetts coast and cost about $2.6 billion. The U.S. Energy Department said last month it had put a loan- guarantee application for Cape Wind on hold to focus on other projects that could begin construction before a Sept. 30 deadline.

"Cape Wind…would have a capacity of as much as 468 megawatts of electricity from wind turbines located about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Cape Cod. The project may be difficult to finance without government backing…"


SUN DIVERSIFYING
Solar energy strategy: Diversify to survive; Growing technology diversification illustrates how the CSP industry is targeting greater efficiency and maximising its investments. Expect more to come.
Jason Deign, 17 June 2011 (CSP Today)

"CSP has always been a specialist game. Leaders such as Abengoa or Sener have got where they are now by doing one thing only and doing it well…But that picture is gradually changing.

"Developers are trying their hands at new CSP technologies: witness Sener-owned Torresol Energy’s foray into power towers after building a reputation in parabolic troughs, or SkyFuel’s grant-funded work on a linear power tower concept alongside its SkyTrough technology."

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"And some CSP companies are going even further. Solar Millennium and Ferrostaal’s joint venture, Solar Trust of America, last month struck a deal with SolarHybrid to develop photovoltaic (PV) plants. SolarReserve is also adding PV capacity to its existing CSP portfolio.

"…There are a couple of reasons…essentially [reflecting] the evolution of technology…Brett Prior, senior analyst at GTM Research [said trough technology is] about the same price now as tower, but…is going to have faster cost improvements over the next decade…[and] GTM Research analysis shows that concentrated PV (CPV), in particular, compares favourably with other solar options…"


COLORADO’S NEW ENERGY ECONOMY
Policy, Collaboration Play Heavily In Ritter's New Energy Economy
Mark Del Franco, 23 June 2011 (North American Windpower)

"Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter used his time in office to build a new energy economy centered around public/private partnerships, research and development (R&D) initiatives, and economic development."

What Governor Ritter saw, what Colorado is growing (click to enlarge)

"Now out of office, he is spreading the message of how states can replicate what Colorado did to prosper in the new energy economy…"