Investing in smart grid technology

Jim Cramer sees green in the smart grid

On Tuesday, Jim Cramer claimed that smart grid technology offers both consumers and utilities a way to save money. Sounds like a perfect green investment.

In the past, Cramer has liked Itron, which has performed very well since Cramer brought this stock up in October. While he still likes the stock, he didn't suggest buying at today's levels.

Today, Cramer also likes Cooper Industries (CBE) as a way to play smart grid technology. This will be a good recovery stock and it already derives 21 % of its revenues from utilities.

On the speculative side, Cramer also likes Televent GIT (TLVT), which is very similar to Itron.

Cramer stays on natural gas bandwagon

Barnett Shale in Texas

Trick me once, shame on you. Trick me twice, shame on me.

Not long after Boone Pickens took on his natural gas campaign, CNBC financial guru, Jim Cramer, joined the cause. Several months later he backed off natural gas and called out Pickens to explain himself, which Pickens did on Cramer's Mad Money Show.

Months later, Cramer was again higher than ever on natural gas, a place he has now been for several months. In fact, Cramer believes the recent Total and Chesapeake Energy deal is just the beginning of action to come in the natural gas space as new drilling techniques make shale a paradigm shifter for US energy policy. (more)

Hey, if natural gas can reduce CO2 emissions and reduce foreign oil consumption - while guaranteeing the protection of water resources - then natural gas might be one of the greenest of investments out there.

Natural gas the next big green investment?

Power your home and your car

In Copenhagen, there was much debate between the US, other modern countries and China, India and Africa. Essentially, these emerging countries believe that the US, etc. should do much more immediately to reduce CO2 emissions as the world works towards a common, world-wide standard.

With natural gas inventories growing by the minute, many are starting to believe that natural gas can be the CO2 fix for such aggressive, short term reductions - without any detrimental effects on the US economy.

Moreover, natural gas is now a domestic resource with burgeoning supplies. So, in addition to meeting high CO2 reduction expectations, natural gas also helps tame foreign oil dependence, while providing extra jobs and income in the US.

Sounds like a perfect green investment to me, as long as water resources can be protected from gas drilling.

Renewed interest in green investments in 2010

Some green in lithium-ion?

A new PricewaterhouseCoopers study finds that "energy-efficient technology for batteries, grids and power storage will draw more interest from companies and investors in 2011".

Still, the study seems to believe that the recovery in the green energy sector is recovering "slowly."

More on green investing.

Mining into green investments

All about rare earth metals

Toyota is facing a potential shortage of rare metals that could limit production of hybrid cars according many news stories recently. As it turns it out, China is hording natural resources, rare earth metals in this instance, it deems important to long term viability. Likewise, there are hints that exports could be severely limited into the future, even the very near future.

Currently, China accounts for 97 percent of the world's supply of rare earth metals.

Fortunately, however, there are companies and mines in the US capable of a significant uptick in rare earth metal mining. Unfortunately, there aren't any rare earth metal refineries or processors in the entire United States according to CNBC reporting.

Yet, the importance of these these rare earth metals isn't limited to hybrid cars and other electric vehicles. In fact much of the new economy, the green economy, will be dependent upon these rare earth metals if the green revolution is to happen.

Nonetheless, the mining could be the easy part, as a few companies, such MolyCorp, already exist, but the rare earth metal refineries are the issue that really piques my interest.

What do you think? Could rare earth metal refining be a good area to investigate for some green investment trades?

Wind power an over-blown investment?

Has wind lost its power?

Earlier this morning CNBC was covering unemployment by region. While the Midwest has been hit hard, North Dakota has been a bright spot with under 5 percent unemployment.

Aside from a strong labor market, the one sector getting hit hard - a sector that North Dakota has invested into heavily - was the wind industry, a sector where job losses are increasing.

Mad Money love of natural gas continues

Devon, politics and a mission

As predicted, Mad Money's Jim Cramer was back on the natural gas bandwagon again today. Except Jim isn't just on the bandwagon, he's taking turns driving the wagon.

According to Cramer, "I'm on a mission" to promote natural gas because of "energy independence, clean energy and jobs".

Anyway, Jim brought on Devon's CEO today to discuss the potential of natural gas, particularly the politics of natural gas. The video should be available on MadMoney.com soon.

Nonetheless, Devon is only a winner if gas prices go higher according to Cramer.

I know this is a green energy trade, but it sure feels odd calling a company that has 30 percent of its company invested in petroleum a green company. Is the fact that 70 percent of their business is in natural gas enough to make Devon a green investment?

Stop Trading: Cramer, again, on natural gas

Cramer makes natural gas a cause

CNBC's Stop Trading with Jim Cramer is on as I type this and he just stated that a big shift is about to happen in natural gas, along the lines of the what the Pickens plan has been advocating in terms of natural gas - strictly for large vehicles and fleets.

Based on his past natural gas rants, I assume he's referring to legislation on this subject that is currently working through Congress.

However, Cramer finished the show jokingly stating that he wasn't going to stop his bullishness on natural gas until every car in America was running on it. So, maybe he sees more potential than just that angle.

I wouldn't be surprised if Cramer addresses this on his show in a few hours. It's become a regular part of his show.

Gotta be some good green investment ideas in those suggestions, at least greener than most investments.

Put some green in your investments with green mortgages?

Make some green by investing in green real estate

Mortgage back securities might be a dirty world in today's financial world, but they just might also be the way out of this mess according to some green investors.

CNBC has a very interesting piece on a growing move to create green mortgage backed securities that turn green features into financial value, or into bonds backed by green mortgages.

More on green investing.

Anadarko is Cramers's latest natural gas play

A natural gas derivative

Cramer is back on a natural gas kick. Last year, Cramer used his Mad Money show to highlight Boone Pickens' plan for a natural gas transportation system. Later, Cramer called out Pickens for the fact that nothing of the Pickens Plan had materialized.

In recent weeks, however, Cramer has been much more supportive of the natural gas industry, particularly considering natural gas legislation is now working its way through Congress. Thus, recently, Cramer has recommended companies like Fuel Systems Solutions and Encena.

Today, Cramer recommended Anadarko Petroleum is a natural gas derivative play.

Established companies on way to green leadership

A more reliable path towards green investments?

First Solar has been a darling of the green investment crowd. Yet, despite the fact that First Solar doesn't need subsidies to be profitable, its stock has been hit in recent months. Unlike First Solar, however, most other solar companies cannot derive a profit without significant government subsidies.

And that's often the case with most companies investing in alternative, green technologies.

Thus, MarketWatch suggests 5 companies that offer a great green investment in companies that are already established giants. GE, Honeywell International, Corning, Google and Applied Materials are "technology companies and old-line industrial giants with surprising, even quirky, big interests in the environmental movement."

What do you think? Do such companies really qualify as green investments?

Fast Money sees a future in natural gas vehicles

Toyota's natural gas hybrid

The crew on Fast Money talked a little natural gas today. Basically, these investment professionals believe that natural gas will have to become part of America's energy paradigm. Karen Finerman claimed this is something she wants to start building a position in over the next few years.

So, nothing major will happen in the short term, but these traders seem to believe something is coming down the pike.

Yingli margins killing stock?

Just not the time to play the solar trade?

When President Obama took office many believed it would be a boon for green investors, as the President has made green energy a marquee of his Presidential platform. However, most green stocks, such as those in solar companies, have mostly been a bust, and many analysts believe they will remain a bust, at least until higher energy prices return.

One solar stock that has done well recently, however, has been Yingli Green (YGE). Yesterday, however, the stock was hit hard due to poor margins according to Fast Money's Pete Najarian.

Unfortunately, Najarian didn't comment on when the margin problem would improve.

Lithium batteries a bad green investment?

One of the first Chevy Volt battery packs

Recently, hype about plug-in vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt, the Nissan Leaf or the Tesla Roadster has increased interest in the key to this technology, lithium-ion batteries.

Analysts in the sector, however, believe that retail investors - those with less than two years of investment experience - are fueling a surge of investment into this space in a overreaction to real world growth potential.

"I think (Sanyo shares) are overbought," said Osamu Hirose, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center, according to Reuters.

Moreover, "According to Thomson Reuters, no brokerage has a "buy" rating on Sanyo, which has a price-to-earnings ratio of 67 times its estimated earnings."

On the other hand, Tim Seymour of FastMoney called out a number of Asian companies, those with interests in hybrid and electric vehicle batteries as an investment play off the Chevy Volt.

What do you think? Are the battery makers of plug-in hybrids a worthy green investment, or has this game already been-overplayed? Even more interesting, is it retail investors that over-estimating the potential of plug-in hybrids, or are the professional investors under-estimating the potential of plug-ins?

Another American trade on auto efficiency?

A lithium powered Escape at Hybridfest

One way or another American automobiles are going to become more fuel efficient. CAFE alone will make America's fleet 40 percent more fuel efficient. And, if another gas price spike happens in the next few years, consumer interest might forever shift towards greater and greater fuel economy.

Yesterday, Jim Cramer of MadMoney called Johnson Controls the "only auto-related company" that he would recommend based on clean and efficient technologies.

More on green investments.

A Latin American lithium play?

Is the battery the future of the automobile?

If you follow the auto industry, then you've probably heard that the battery is the future of the automobile. In fact, some claim that the battery, or at least its manufacturers, could be more important than automakers.

Yesterday, the Fast Money crew offered up some Asian companies as investment vehicles off the battery powered revolution.

Anyway, the future of the battery is probably based in lithium-ion batteries. Today, Jim Cramer suggested SQM as a great Latin American play on lithium. Since most of the world's largest supplies of lithium are found in Latin America, it seems that control of lithium supplies could be a very profitable niche.

Suntech Power called out on Fast Money

A good great green investment?

Today on Fast Money, Tim Seymour called out Suntech Power as hist last trade of the day. Apparently, he and Jim Cramer have some different opinions on solar power investments.

Cramer still likes First Solar

Still likes, but didn't recommend

During the 'Am I diversified' segment of Mad Money, Jim Cramer stated that First Solar was still his favorite, non-Chinese solar company because they are the only major solar company thats business isn't dependent upon government subsidies.

Now, he didn't recommned buying First Solar stock, he just called it his favorite, non-Chinese solar company.

In the recent past, Cramer, essentially, called solar stucks a bust despite the Obama Administration and cap and trade. Until energy prices increase, solar power just isn't profitable Cramer has claimed.

Chevy Volt investment plays

It's the battery, baby

Last night Bob Lutz was on Fast Money to discuss how the Chevy Volt might change the auto industry.

Unfortunately, the Volt wasn't enough to inspire the crew to buy GM stock just yet.

However, Tim Seymour called out Panasonic and its partnership with Sanyo as a way to play the "secret sauce" of the plug-in vehicle, the lithium-ion battery. Overall, Seymour claimed that the Asians dominate this space, and in addition to Panasonic, he also mentioned Samsung and LG.

Unfortunatley, Seymour didn't go into whether investors should invest in LG directly, for instance, or more directly in LG Chem, or even Compact Power, the LG Chem subsidiary directly involved in the Chevy Volt.

Chinese demand to drive solar stocks?

It's all about China?

Today, the Fast Money crew were discussing Applied Materials when the issue of solar stocks came up. Ultimately, Chinese demand could provide some interesting results for a few solar stocks - which the gang really didn't consider to be a core business of Applied.

Overall, however, the crew thinks that solar stocks won't really get rolling until 2010.

Is solar power a good cap and trade play?

The darling of the green revolution?

Yesterday, a MadMoney caller asked Jim Cramer why most solar stocks have been tanking recently, even as cap and trade moves closer and closer to becoming law. Because solar power simply isn't viable without massive government incentives, even if cap and trade becomes law, replied Cramer.

I don't know if Cramer is right, but I was pretty shocked to hear Cramer's response. Kind of makes one wonder if solar power is really a good green investment, or whether solar power is just a good hedge against oil prices.

Jim's First Cap and Trade Pick

Efficient electric motors

According to MadMoney's Jim Cramer, cap and trade is not going to be good for most businesses. Nonetheless, Cramer is investigating stocks that will be big winners if cap and trade legislation becomes law.

Jim recommended Baldor Electric Co. (BEZ) about a year ago, and the company saw big losses. So, Cramer was wrong on this company in the past, and he's still not bullish on Baldor, UNLESS cap and trade becomes reality.

In the weeks ahead, Cramer has promised more green investment plays off cap and trade, so stay tuned.

Bullish on oil? Play it clean

Aren't further oil problems inevitable?

Watching a little Fast Money and the crew just finished off a great segment on oil prices. Short term stabilization, the gang seemed to agree, is probably in the cards. Nonetheless, there are plenty of issues in the hopper to fire up oil trading into the future.

However, if you're bullish on higher oil prices, but don't want to get long in oil, Guy Adami suggests picking up a few shares of the Exchange Traded Fund TAN instead, which includes solar hot shot, First Solar.

Hexcel: A Chinese way to play wind power?

A materials play?

An analyst on CNBC today called out Hexcel (HXL) an interesting green investment. Hexcel is the top material's provider for wind turbines. Still, investors have been skeptical on Hexcel because of liquidity issues. However, those issues have been resolved in the last few weeks.

Cramer's semi-green speculation

Not a pure green play

Mad Money's Jim Cramer offered up Silicon Laboratories as a nice speculative play today. Now, SLAB isn't a pure green play, but it does have green elements to its business, such as a niche in hybrid cars.

Sure, it's not the greenest of green investments, but if you don't care, Jim thinks SLAB is worth the risk.

Are the Chinese set to eclipse the US on solar power?

A Suntech Solar installation in Manitoba

When it comes to high efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells SunPower is about as good as it gets, but according to Greentech, Suntech's monocrystalline Pluto cells are catching up, and could soon even catch SunPower.

Now, I'm not calling Suntech the next big green investment; however, Suntech does have me wondering if US labor costs can compete with the labor costs China will be able to bring to the solar power space.

Certainly, US solar companies are years away from such worries. Nonetheless, green jobs are being purported to be the next big thing for skilled, high wage jobs in the US, but is that feasible in the long term?

Are polymers the key to lithium investments?

A lithium ion polymer battery used by NASA

If the future of the automobile, for instance, is electrification, then batteries are the key to the auto industry, and everyone in the auto industry is now running towards lithium. Nonetheless, the exact chemistry's that make lithium viable for autos are in question.

Today, Technology Review has a pretty interesting piece on Seeo, Inc. and their latest use of "thin films of polymer as the electrolyte and high-energy-density, light-weight electrodes" which result in "safer, longer-lasting, lighter, and cheaper" batteries.

While some critics maintain that polymer electrolytes are not feasible for quick charge hybrids because of low ionic conductivity, the fact that Hyundai seems prepared to bet its hybrid future on related technology is quite interesting.

Even if lithium polymer isn't the key to the automobile, lithium polymers will be an important part of the future battery industry, and it could be another way to enjoy green investing.

Fast Money on smart grid technology

Smart grid investing

Few things are greener than smart grid technology, but there are companies everywhere trying to get into this business. So, whenever smart investors throw out some names, it's good to pay attention.

Today, on Fast Money Karen Finerman picked Itron as a top smart technology company.

The gang also threw out American Superconductor and the PHO ETF.

Green investing in smart grid technology. Now that's just smart.

Can ZENN be the "Intel Inside" of EVs?

A ZENN electric vehicle

I've been following the ZENN story for the last few years, but I've always felt that ZENN was forever destined to niche player, such as EVs for university campus workers. However, CNET has a pretty interesting piece about how ZENN wants to become the "Intel Inside" of electric vehicles.

Could ZENN become an expert on electric drives, batteries and ultra-caps. That remains to be seen, especially since many of the major automakers are taking on this task internally.

As a green investor, I'm not sure I yet buy this story.

GE makes gains in wind power

However, wind power sector is slowing

General Electric grew its wind power market share from 16.6 percent to 18.6 percent in 2008, thanks to a number of wind power projects in the US. If the US increases its wind power projects under Obama, GE could be a big winner and a sneaky way to play the green investor. (more)

Bullet trains: The way to play cap-and-trade?

A speedy green investment?

If President Obama has his way, America will soon have implemented a wide scale cap-and-trade program, and carbon trading could have huge ramifications for high speed rail according to some experts.

According to Richard Sandor, the chair and chief executive of the CCX, "said his organization has been working with the government-owned rail company Amtrak, which is a member of his bourse, to determine whether revenue from the developing carbon market can be directed to train companies."

Solyndra finding greater yield in its solar thin-film

It's in the tubes

Solyndra has found it is able to boost the average power output of its thin-film solar panels from 157 watts to "close to 200 watts," according to reports. This increase yield should help the company increase production at its second 500 megawatt manufacturing plant that is being built with the help of $535 million Federal Loan guarantee - the first of its kind - from the Department of Energy.

Does Chromasum have the key to multifunction solar power?

75 percent efficient?

Chromasun is hoping that a its new solar device, which uses both a PV and a solar thermal system to achieve 75 percent efficiency, will entice green investors. Likewise, the company is defining a very specific niche for itself as it gets started: air conditioning.

While air conditioning systems only account for about 16 percent of US power, during the summer AC power can account for almost 50 percent of grid demand in California.

Are plastic substrates worthy of the sun?

Make it plastic?

Today, most solar companies use metal or glass for substrate material. Ascent Solar Technologies believes its new solar substrates will be as durable as current substrates, but cheaper reports Greentech Media.

Turning trash into clean, green cash: It's a gas?

Don't just burn it

Interesting piece on GreenTech covering some highlights of the AlwaysOn GoingGreen East
Conference. In particular, how can trash be cost-effectively turned into clean green energy?

Most companies heading down this path have failed thus far, however, new companies, such as Ze-Gen are focusing on various types of gasification and syngas as the way to reap some green by turning trash into clean energy.

Time to invest in carbon sequestration?

Is coal actually a good investment under Obama

In recent months there have been a number of solar plays that have been made in anticipation of President Obama's green energy plans.

Coal, on the other hand, has been seen as a loser under the Obama administration. Yet, could coal be the real play?

The fact is, coal is going to be a major source of US power for some time. Even with a CO2 cap-and-trade program, coal can still be green using carbon capture and storage technology.

Could coal actually make your green investments a bit greener?

Wind power project in decline

Wall Street crisis has many casualties

Until a few months ago, wind power was roaring as new project after new project broke ground in the Nation's wind corridor, not to mention a number of off-shore plans. However, many of those companies funding the wind power boom have been crushed by the Wall Street crisis according to the AP.

More SmartGrid consolidation

Sigma buys Z-Wave

Surprise. Surprise. There has been more consolidation in the smart grid segment, as Sigma Designs is seeking to buy Zensys.

According to Greentech, "Zensys is the primary driver behind Z-Wave, a wireless, energy-efficient protocol that allows lights, appliances, security cameras, thermostats and other devices to talk to each other. Z-Wave is a single chip solution and is cheaper than competing technologies like ZigBee and WiFi, say advocates."

Solar power cheaper than coal by 2012

A play for green fast money?

The crew of Fast Money gave a shout out to solar power today, speaking to the point that Cypress Semiconductor, for instance, believes it's on a path to cost-effective solar power. By 2012, according to Pete Najarian, Cypress believes that solar power will be cheaper than coal.

In addition to Cypress, Fast Money also called out First Solar, which had a big run up in its stock price today.

Nonetheless, the gang didn't suggest buying any of these stocks at this point, but they do seem to believe in the potential of solar power. Maybe a good time to start buying on dips, or to pick up some shares of a solar fund so you don't have to pick winners?

A Total Green play on an oil company?

Oil companies continue to fund green tech R&D development

"Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Power Plastic®, a material that converts light to energy, today announced the company has signed bilateral R&D and cooperation agreements with Total, one of the largest publicly-traded integrated international oil and gas companies in the world. Konarka has secured $45 million in funding and Total will become the leading shareholder with its stake being slightly less than 20%."

Already, Total has stakes in the solar companies Photovoltech and Tenesol and is hoping to increase its crystalline silicon-based cell production, while using Konarka to start developing thin film technology.

Hey, if you want to invest in an energy company, at least invest in a diversified energy company. I don't if you can call that a green investment, but it's a step. Or, Konarka is always a pure play on solar power.

Batteries: The next big green investment?

Who can make the best lithium anode

Interesting article in Technology Review regarding new techniques for developing lithium-ion batteries - breakthroughs that could instantly double the range of battery-powered vehicles. A number of researchers have been working on developing cost-effective ways of creating nanoporous silicon electrodes, with positive results, although many still believe that mass-production of such materials would be too cost-prohibitive for use in autos.

Still, while nanoporous silicon might not be the next big thing in batteries, most researchers believe that there is still a lot of potential to tap into when it comes to lithium batteries. Unlike the NiMH batteries powering today's hybrid cars, the upside potential of lithium batteries is still huge.

Interestingly, another piece of research cited in the report was the "impressive" work that GM demonstrated in September using silicon-coated carbon fibers in their lithium anodes.

When you add in the potential of batteries, the feasibility of the electrification of the automobile seems much more clear. Coupled with Better Place, however, one starts to wonder if battery makers and smart grid providers might make automakers far less relevant.

Black liquor biofuels - Is it really green?

It's not saving any trees

Chemrec, a company specializing in black liquor gasification, has completed $20 million in funding to turn pulp and paper mills into "biorefineries".

According to the company, the waste of pulp and paper mills, aka black liquor, could be turned into enough biofuel to replace 2 percent of global fuel demand.

Of course, how does this fuel get into the pipeline? How much gas will it take to get this bio-gas to gas stations?

Converting waste into energy is always a good practice, but how green is this investment?

Green: Sixth Technology Revolution

Solar has a bright future

"Energy concerns will not disappear despite the falling price of oil, so investors can expect significant long-term opportunities in the cleantech space, according to a new thematic report published by Steven Milunovich, Merrill Lynch cleantech strategist."

Particularly in focus are energy efficiency-increasing technologies, electric cars, solar and wind power, distributed energy and microgrids, as well as biofuels and geothermal power.

Today, many alternative energy stocks have been hammered. However, strong alternative energy companies should rebound if green technology is the future. In fact, green investments might be the only growth story heading into the future, and with stock prices so low, there might never be a better buying opportunity.

Ethanol consolidation coming

Green ethanol plays

Poet LLC, the nation's top ethanol producer, is now in buyout talks with a number of ethanol companies, such as VeraSun, and a number of other ethanol players. With many ethanol players suffering serious economic woes, Poet seems primed to grow with consolidation. And, with an ethanol supporter headed to the White House, it seems ethanol will remain an important part of the Nation's energy paradigm.

While we're not sure that ethanol counts as a green investment, we can only hope than any corn-based ethanol success leads to cellulosic ethanol R&D.

Turning waste heat into cash

At least 50 percent of all energy is wasted

Capturing waste heat could supply up to 19 percent of US power, and a number of companies are trying to turn waste into the next big green investment.

ElectraTherm, Recycled Energy Development (RED), GMZ Energy, and Promethean Power are all up coming players in the heat waste space according to Greentech Media.

Turning waste into cash, now that's a green investment.

WSJ - Obama's alt energy plans face problems

Can the government foot the whole bill?

"Forging a new energy future by creating vast amounts of wind, solar and, possibly, nuclear energy is one of Mr. Obama's highest priorities," reports the Wall Street Journal. "But enacting that policy depends to a large degree on the ability of energy companies and utilities to finance the massive new investments that would be needed. With many of those companies cutting spending, a lot of those investments are being pared back or eliminated."

Ironically, in the last few days, I've heard a number of pundits on Wall Street claiming that the only way that the US can avoid depression was massive spending. What better than a massive spending program on alternative technologies?

2 Obama Energy Plays - Barclays

Despite recent setbacks, solar still a good long term investment

Just caught Vishal Shah of Barclays speaking about alternative energy plays under Barack Obama. According to Shah, alternative energy is still a great investment under an Obama presidency. In particular, he liked SunPower and FirstSolar as long term plays.

Despite oil prices under $50 per barrel, green investing might still make sense, but you have to think long term.

Infrastructure - Cramer's green picks today

Broken stock, but not a broken company

Quanta Services is a company with great fundamentals, but it's a broken stock thanks to hedge fund redemption. Nonetheless, it's a great wind power play, especially with Obama in the White House.

Still, don't rush into this stock, Cramer warns. Hedge funds need to first work through their redemptions. Thus, this is a stock to watch, as it has great potential, but wait until the selling ends.

Shaw Group (SGR) is another Cramer fave - if you consider nuclear green. Still, this play will depend on action outside of the US with Obama in the White House, and Shaw has a lot of projects in China. Likewise, its non-nuclear business is also doing well. Since Shaw's stock price is so low, according to Cramer, it seems a great buy.

Gridpoint lands another smart grid deal

Will manage wind power battery storage

According to GreenTech Media GridPoint will use it's smart grid technology to help a Minnesota wind farm manage it's power storage. Gridpoint "will control the flow of power between an 11-megawatt wind farm in Luverne, Minn. and NGK Insulators' 1-megawatt, sodium-sulfur battery that is capable of holding 7.2 megawatt-hours of energy, the companies announced. The battery storage project is expected to be complete in January 2009."

The alternative energy future, including the electrification of the automobile, is very dependent upon a new smart electrical grid, and GridPoint appears to look more and more like a major player in that new smart grid.

Q Microbe drawing cellulosic ethanol investment

Qteros' microbial hopes

Qteros picked up $25 million Series B funding today, reports CNET, led by investors like BP and George Soros.

The Q Microbe is a naturally occurring micro-organism that, according to Qteros, can efficiently turn cellulosic materials into ethanol - eliminating the need for enzymes which account for 30 percent of production costs.

Now, that's a green investment, literally.

Trash trucks: The economics of Natural Gas

A natural gas trash truck in Los Angeles

Within two years, Los Angeles might convert their entire fleet of trash trucks into natural gas vehicles. Already, LA's Bureau of Sanitation is using 300 such trucks.

These trucks, built by Peterbilt with Cummins Engines, reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent, but they cost $50,000 more per truck. Natural gas is also cheaper than diesel fuel, but it could take as long as 10 years to recover costs.

Still, isn't that investment worth less global warming emissions and less foreign oil dependency? Check out MSNBC for a video.

Cramer blue on green investing

Don't expect a lot of green from your green investments

It's green week on NBC, parent of the CNBC show Mad Money. The last couple of years, Mad Money host Jim Cramer, has created a green portfolio which he covered yesterday. Essentially, green investments have gotten hammered in the last few months, and Cramer doesn't see any green at the end of the alternative technology tunnel any time soon.

While many have hoped that President-elect Obama is the answer to green technology troubles, Cramer appeared far less hopeful. In fact, he claimed that President Jimmy Carter had more ambitious green plans than Obama. In the end, however, the cheap cost of oil made Carter's investments largely worthless.

Cramer seemed to imply that Obama might be willing to spend $150 billion on alternative energy, but if investors aren't willing to match that investment, Obama is just wasting money. And cheap oil, Cramer believes, will keep most investors out of green investments.

Also, Cramer seems to believe that Obama's disinterest in natural gas is a mistake. If, however, Obama would embrace natural gas, then Cramer thinks natural gas players, such as Anadarko Petroleum could be huge winners.

Is carbon capture a green technology?

Or just a front for big oil and coal?

The other day I read an interesting article about a new program that is developing in Europe. Coal-powered utilities, under the plan, would capture their CO2 emissions and pump them deep under ground - virtually eliminating all CO2 emissions.

Some, however, wonder if that carbon will stay underground.

One potential fix is storing that carbon in peridotite, one of the main rocks in the upper mantle of the Earth's crust. Still, even under perfect conditions, peridotite couldn't eat all of the world's CO2 emissions.

Is carbon capture a legitimate, green idea that should be explored, or is it just an excuse to prevent real change for as long as possible.

Solyndra signs new $320 million dollar deal

It's all in the tubes

Solyndra has signed a contract worth up to $320 million with Carlisle Energy Services to supply 100 megawatts worth of panels over a 5-year period.

Solyndra produces tubular copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) thin film that is rolled into tubes - 40 tubes per panel. Thanks to the curvature of the tubes, the panels are able to absorb more indirect light, converting 12 to 14 percent of that sunlight into electricity.

Coupled with Carlisle's white thermoplastic polyolefin roofing membrane, output could be increased by 20 percent.

It's tubular, dude!