May 7, 2008

Green cars come in many varieties. Natural gas is one of them, considered to be a much cleaner and cheaper alternative than conventional oil. In fact, Honda's Civic GX, a natural gas car that cost about $25,000 and is sold only in New York and California, is the "greenest" of them all.

The primary market is large fleets. Such vehicles drive substantial distances and are therefore able to recoup their higher initial costs through reduced fuel charges. They also have access to centrally located fueling and repair stations.

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 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.