QUICK NEWS, 4-5:FUKUSHIMA TODAY AND TOMORROW; NEW ENERGY LIFELINE DANGLES; EU ORGANIZES FOR THE EV; SUN BUILDER BUYS ROOFER

FUKUSHIMA TODAY AND TOMORROW
Fukushima: the future is unknown, but the present is terrible enough; We must not let our fear of the potential risks of radiation eclipse the real and present dangers the Japanese people face
Jonathan Watts, 3 April 2011 (UK Guardian)

"…[D]isaster victims [in Japan] are being put to one side [for fear they are contaminated with radiation] while the world is gripped by fear of a meltdown…The explosions and radiation leaks at the nuclear plant have dominated coverage…though they have so far resulted in far fewer casualties than the earthquake and tsunami. This is frustrating to anyone who has seen the situation in the evacuation shelters, where the need for food, fuel and care is enormous…

"So why has the media focus remained on less tangible nuclear fears? The old media adage 'If it bleeds, it leads;, was clearly not the deciding factor. The problems at the plant have not yet resulted in a single fatality, whereas the 28,000 people dead or missing as a result of the earthquake and tsunami make it Japan's deadliest disaster since the war…[and the cause of] more economic damage than any disaster man has known...[Up to 400,000 people homeless. Fewer than a third are nuclear evacuees…Yet these powerful scenes have been pushed aside by a radioactive threat we cannot see."

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"…The nuclear crisis hits closer to home. There is a far higher chance of a reactor accident than a tsunami in most countries, particularly in Europe and North America. But…people in Sendai (80km away) were going about their business…while embassies and firms in Tokyo (200km away) were frantically evacuating…And shoppers in China (1,000km away) were fighting…[for] an antidote to radiation…[This] suggests media messages are being distorted and amplified."

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"…This is not to dismiss the threat. Nobody can predict what will happen next, because we have not been here before. This novelty, more than anything, explains why the nuclear angle has pushed the continuing human suffering in Japan off the front pages…We have had earthquakes and tsunamis before, but we have never consumed a multiple meltdown threat quite like this. The efforts to contain the leak have been horrifyingly compelling – both extraordinarily brave and yet, given the enormity of the problem and the improvised nature of the countermeasures, touchingly inadequate. Until the threat posed is clear, we must watch it closely.

"…[But] we should not lose sight of suffering and need…[A]s reports came in of explosions at the reactors…expert advice suggested the radiation risk was tolerable if we kept a decent distance. A bigger concern was the shortage of food and fuel, which took hours to find each day…[and without] oil, there was a very real risk of society grinding to a halt. For those in the shelters, of course, the situation was much worse…[and] the humanitarian challenge is not over."


NOTEWORTHY NEW ENERGY BETS
Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2011: Buying Opportunities
Tom Konrad, March 29, 2011 (Alt Energy Stocks)

"The geothermal and demand response stocks in my annual portfolio of ten clean energy stocks for 2011 have fallen significantly since the start of the year, making this an excellent time to buy…I've been publishing [a list yearly since 2007]…For 2008-10, my list outperformed my clean energy benchmark. This year so far looks like it is going to break my streak, but…I now think four of my picks are screaming buys.

"…I try to follow a contrarian strategy of focusing on sectors with relatively mature technology and relatively little investor attention. This year, I put particular emphasis on the established smart grid technology, Demand Response, as well as one of the most economical but least talked about forms of renewable electricity, geothermal power…I still like their prospects, and the reduced stock prices have me buying the demand response companies, and expanding my positions in the geothermal power stocks…"

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"I'm quite puzzled at the poor performance of demand response companies EnerNOC (ENOC) and Comverge (COMV) so far this year. Demand response companies make money by helping utilities reduce electricity loads…[A] landmark [regulatory] ruling…will require utilities to pay demand response companies as much as electricity generators are paid…[It] should open up many new opportunities…Both companies had negative earnings surprises for the fourth quarter…I've purchased shares in both Comverge and EnerNOC since the favorable FERC rulings, and have been pleased to be able to do it at lower, rather than higher, prices…"

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"The 35% decline in Ram Power Corp. (RAMPF.PK) is partly explained by large cost overruns in the company's flagship San Jacinto-Tizate project in Nicaragua…[but] recent news for the Nicaraguan project has been good…Nevada Geothermal Power (NGLPF.OB) has also seen a decline since the start of the year, but the most significant news was NGP's purchase of geothermal assets in California…I'm still optimistic about geothermal power in 2011…I've maintained my already large position in Nevada Geothermal, and added to my positions in Ram Power, US Geothermal (HTM), and Magma Energy Corp. (MGMXF.PK)…

"I've been frustrated with the high valuations of most clean energy companies for well over a year, so it's nice to see several of them coming down to prices where I'm comfortable buying. If that means that my annual list of ten clean energy stocks does not beat its industry benchmark this year, I'll consider it well worth it…The year is still young, and these stocks seem very cheap to me. Although they're currently trailing my clean energy benchmark (PBW) by 7%, there are still three quarters to reverse that trend."


NEW ENERGY LIFELINE DANGLES
Clean-Tech Developers Fret Over Witching Hour for DOE Grants
Nathaniel Gronewold, March 28, 2011 (NY Times)

"…[F]inancing for wind, solar and other clean energy projects is still hard to come by, experts say…Deals are getting done, but not at the rate that the industry would call robust…many project developers are still dependent on temporary government support measures…[and they are worried about] the pending end to a Department of Energy program that allows projects to claim cash grants in lieu of the tax credits that have been the mainstay of renewable-energy project financing for years…

"…Insiders assume the production tax credits and investment tax credits will return next year, but most also agree the grants will end this Dec. 31…Projects are still being built, and [there is optimism] about the potential for distributed solar energy programs and wind projects financed partially by community organizations…[but] cash grants have so far been the lifeblood of many renewable energy projects…[It is not clear that] banks have an appetite for continuing their support into next year…[with] tax equity financing structures, which allow them to claim tax credits to offset liabilities from more profitable business streams."

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"…[Beyond the cash grant, most New Energy companies want] stronger, more consistent government support beyond the temporary tax incentives that are sometimes extended just days before they are set to expire…[A] national feed-in tariff [could] do wonders for domestic clean energy manufacturing and distribution…[and the] clean-tech industry has long called for a price on the carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuel combustion, but [those are politically unlikely]…

"…[D]evelopers may not have to worry too much if some of the larger, more committed financiers maintain their stated support…GE Energy Financial Services, one of the largest players in the field…met its goal of achieving $6 billion…[in] renewable energy investments at the end of 2010. But that spending was spread across 14 countries, and 75 percent of domestic spending was focused on states with renewable portfolio standards or laws that mandate a certain percentage of electricity be sourced from renewable sources…[JP Morgan Chase’s] investments in alternative energy projects in the United States totaled $3.2 billion last year. The money went to four geothermal power projects, 67 wind farms and 12 photovoltaic solar power projects…All those arrangements were tax equity structures…[and it says it will] likely continue its support so long as Congress keeps tax credits and other incentives in place…"

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"Globally, 2010 was a record year for alternative energy investment with growth fueled almost entirely by government economic stimulus spending, especially in China…Some believe that with the return of $100-a-barrel oil prices, this year should see bank spending on renewable energy beating 2010 figures, even as direct government subsidization slips away…[M]ainstreaming of alternative energy finance led by likes of JP Morgan Chase and others should also see other players coming into the field…

"But the industry will still face some significant head winds…[E]ven in 2010 many developers…struggled to raise cash during the construction period, which did not enjoy any direct stimulus spending. And the time and resources required to manage a tax equity structure meant that projects had to be large enough to justify those extra costs, leaving out many otherwise worthy projects…And banks still favor wind and solar over other innovative alternative energy systems…[Many] would like to see the cash grant program extended or at least be replaced by something more robust than just a return to base tax credit support, like a federal feed-in tariff…"


SUN BUILDER BUYS ROOFER
Solar Rainbow Acquires Stake in Roofing Company as Solar Installations in the State Increase; New Jersey Is a Leader in Solar Power with Over 8,500 Solar Installations
March 28, 2011 (Solar Rainbow Services)

"…Solar Rainbow Services, a leader in the design and installation of large-scale solar electric systems for commercial customers of all sizes, announced the acquisition of a stake in More Core Commercial Roofing, a commercial roofing company…

"A rooftop solar installation has a lifespan of 25-years…[T]o take advantage of the full life of the system, the roof must also last 25-years…[and] repairs to solar integrated rooftops are very expensive as the solar panels must be relocated to service the roof."

Commercial rooftops present uniques opportunities and challenges (click to enlarge)

"The roofing business has skyrocketed in New Jersey due to the increase in solar photovoltaic energy systems being installed…New Jersey has the most aggressive solar renewable energy certificates (SREC’s) based incentive programs in the Northeast which has led to over 8,500 solar installations. Additionally, the New Jersey Master Plan has set the goal of generating 20% electricity renewable sources by 2020.

"More Core Construction, a company specializing in residential work…[recently expanded] into the commercial roofing sector and added More Core Commercial Roofing in 2010…Solar Rainbow has worked with More Core Commercial Roofing on…a 1 megawatt project on a 120,000 square foot roof…[and] a 1.3 megawatt project on a 400,000 square foot roof…"

Now THAT'S a commerical rooftop installation! (click to enlarge)

"Solar Rainbow is actively seeking rooftops to rent where they will install, own and operate solar systems under the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) structure providing additional revenue to the property owner…up to fifty cents a square foot per year…[F]lat and unobstructed rooftops should be at least 50,000 square feet. Solar Rainbow re-roofs these properties to ensure that the roofs outlast the 15-year life of the lease.

"…Solar Rainbow manages every aspect of project execution-from site acquisition to engineering and long-term maintenance, so customers get all the benefits of solar power as quickly as possible. Solar Rainbow has 5 megawatt worth of projects currently under construction and an additional pipeline of about 25 megawatt commercial rooftop installations."