May 5, 2008

The nation's energy options will require new energy efficiency tools along with a host of fuels that are all supported by a substantial investment in generation and transmission. That's the view from an industry-sponsored report.

The demand for energy is expected to grow by 30 percent a year by 2030 and the United States will need to build 151 gigawatts of new generation by that time, according to the Brattle Group that performed a study for the Edison Electric Institute. Toward that end, energy conservation is critical -- as is the need for more controversial fuel sources. None of the ideas comes free of charge and energy conservation is no different. It necessitates new technologies and perhaps some government incentives.

April 30, 2008

India may be a magnet for future investors. But it has also become a focal point for political dissension involving the U.S.-India nuclear pact.

President Bush is determined to enact the trade deal -- one that would reverse 32 years of U.S. foreign policy and allow the sale of nuclear technologies to India for peaceful purposes. While the presidential candidates have all supported the compact, India's leaders have been unable to win support for it from Communist opponents who keep the current government afloat and who don't want outsiders meddling in their affairs.

April 28, 2008

The credit crunch has taken a bite out of the clean tech sector. But despite the critical situation, the industry is expected to go on to prosper.

The fundamentals are all in place. The rise in oil prices has caused an upward spiral in all of the fossil fuels, giving sustainable sources not only an economic advantage but an environmental one as well. Indeed, national governments around the globe are enacting clean air laws that encourage renewable energy consumption. The result, over time, will mean increasing levels of investment in clean technologies.

April 25, 2008

Economic policies may determine the presidential election. Utilities are particularly interested in preserving the current dividend tax rate -- something that they say encourages more investment in their enterprises.

A 15 percent tax on dividends is not just good for utilities but is also healthy for the economy. Proponents say the policy helps attract the capital needed to improve infrastructure while also contributing to full employment. Such incentives furthermore encourage savings and reduce the need to acquire excessive debt that could drag businesses down during economically distressing times.

April 23, 2008

It's part politics. It's part reality. But the sum total equates to a fundamental shift in national policy as it relates to global warming.

The Bush administration now says that the growth of greenhouse gas emissions must be halted by 2025. After years of opposing any such regulations, the White House is laying out what might become the general framework for new discussions. It's a necessary move, as political candidates and businesses alike realize that carbon constraints are becoming increasingly real. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, meantime, requires the administration to take action if it deems the release of those emissions as harmful to human health and the environment.

April 21, 2008

It's seems pretty safe to utter the "R" word. But investors still need to be cautious about where they place their bets. For their part, utilities have weathered the downturn and performed comparatively well.

Utilities have long been known for generating stable revenues and paying predictable dividends. It's a heritage that has paid off in the current economic environment. It's almost entirely a function of the fact that electricity is an essential commodity that must always be purchased. Regulated utilities, meantime, are able to pass through their reasonable expenses that include fuel adjustments while unregulated ones are taking advantage of current higher fuel costs and expected greater demand.

April 18, 2008

An Alaskan natural gas pipeline would certainly help feed America's energy appetite. But financial and political impediments are delaying construction.

Alaska's Prudhoe Bay produces about 8 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day, or roughly 13 percent of this country's daily consumption. But, that gas never reaches the Lower 48 states because it waits for a pipeline to be built. While the state is now in serious talks with a Canadian pipeline developer, the project must still overcome a host of opposition that is bound to be formidable.