A Tale Of 2 Biofuel Companies: Solazyme Vs. KiOR [View article]
Scale is everything, and although their technologies look promising, I've yet to see proof that they've overcome the big challenges from maintaining the optimal algae colonies over time to finding less energy intensive ways of extracting the product. Maybe then they can be said to be a "viable solution" (that is, commercially viable) to our raging oil habit. But they have their work cut out for them, given that society largely continues to ignore the externalized costs of fossil fuels, and the U.S. alone still consumes over 19 million barrels of oil a day.
T. Boone Pickens' Extremely Bullish Energy Bets [View article]
And that would make how much difference, Bob, in prices in a globalized market with increasing demand from Asia? It's getting harder to get decent production rates at a decent cost. But the currently higher up-front cost of alternative technologies (even the relatively uncontroversial ones) still looks like something of an obstacle as long as fossil fuels are cost-externalized and heavily subsidized. We could at least get rid of some of those subsidies and put the money toward a tax credit, or conservation/alternative source incentives. But will that happen? I'm not holding my breath.
Why Natural Gas Disrupts the Energy Industry [View article]
There's also the recent research suggesting that increased production could up the leakage of methane, reducing the more favorable fossil carbon footprint of natural gas. Still, with some care it could be a good interim solution/compliment to renewables where appropriate. And with an upgraded utra-high voltage grid, that could be almost anywhere (so going head over heels into natural gas power generation doesn't seem wise either, given the typical plant lifespan).
Obama's State of the Union Address Should Fuel Rally in Clean Technology [View article]
The big question is which technologies are likely to be commercially scalable to the extent that they can make much near-term difference. That is, achieve economies of scale when fossil fuels continue to have a leg up with the help of subsidies (and some would say externalized costs), and the nation still uses many megatons of coal and billions of barrels of oil annually (both relatively energy-dense fuels). For example, "clean coal" with carbon capture looks infeasible in the absence of some sort of carbon pricing system that at least partially compensates for the extra expense (assuming they can find enough geologically stable, low-liability storage). Political impetus is a big question mark. Meaningful change may be unlikely without the phasing out of fossil fuel incentives and the phasing in of better efficiency and alternative energy incentives. Considering what appears to be a new crop of fossil-friendly politicians in congress, I'm not sure I'd bet on a lasting clean tech rally at this point.
Is Buy and Hold Dividend Investing Dead? [View article]
This is a key thing I learned from buying what used to be a good divi stock way back, and then seeing it cut the dividend and decline in value. Although there can be benefits to owning individual stocks, for those who don't want to track/analyze a bunch of positions, a low cost index fund/ETF might make more sense. Particularly for modest portfolios in which diversification and re-balancing at a decent cost is an issue.
Energy ETFs: Add a Tiger to Your Portfolio’s Tank [View article]
Not sure it's wealth creation per sé that's being demonized as much as policy that disproportionately favors passive accumulation (including via pure speculation) more than productivity and economic demand on Main Street USA. Once a decent portfolio is built, it becomes even easier to leverage resources, shelter from taxes, garner political influence, and accumulate faster, yet some seem to think the wealthy investor is an endangered species.
Energy ETFs: Add a Tiger to Your Portfolio’s Tank [View article]
Not sure it's wealth creation per sé that's being demonized as much as policy that disproportionately fosters passive accumulation (including pure speculation) more than productivity and economic demand on Main Street USA. Once a decent portfolio is achieved, it becomes even easier to leverage resources, shelter from taxes, garner political influence, and accumulate faster, yet some seem to think the wealthy investor is an endangered species.
Denials aside, I'd say there's a bit of chest-thumping and self-promotion on both sides as the market goes though it's gyrations. Ultimately though, very few people get it consistently right, and as it stands now, "tomorrow" could either be great or horrible. For now at least, uncertainty abounds.
Some interesting discussion on this article's climate commentary, and the misinterpretation contained therein (maybe stick to finance?): climateprogress.org/20...
Carbon ETN Outpaces Oil and Natural Gas ETFs [View article]
Carbon credits (vs. the offsets Gore promotes for when reductions reach their practical limit) are supposed to be one market-based approach. It's a matter of tweaking for maximum effectiveness. The cap & trade system used for coal-fired power plants seems to have had some success. That is, at reducing SULFUR dioxide, paultaut, not carbon dioxide. That program's aim was to reduce smog and acid rain, not the risk or rapid global climate change. The pollution reduction efforts of the past have done little to moderate the output of fossil CO2, which remains largely unregulated.
A Tale Of 2 Biofuel Companies: Solazyme Vs. KiOR [View article]
ETF Best-in-Class Choices in the Clean Energy Sector [View article]
T. Boone Pickens' Extremely Bullish Energy Bets [View article]
Why Natural Gas Disrupts the Energy Industry [View article]
Obama's State of the Union Address Should Fuel Rally in Clean Technology [View article]
Is Buy and Hold Dividend Investing Dead? [View article]
Energy ETFs: Add a Tiger to Your Portfolio’s Tank [View article]
Energy ETFs: Add a Tiger to Your Portfolio’s Tank [View article]
3 Reasons Stocks Are Rising [View article]
Sleeping With The Jaguars [View instapost]
climateprogress.org/20...
Carbon ETN Outpaces Oil and Natural Gas ETFs [View article]