In just the last few weeks, Alternative Energy has been a major focus of BusinessWeek and the Economist. This week’s Economist cover story is the “Greening of America.â€
Does this focus by business magazines have any significance?
It does.
If business magazines are looking at alternative energy, then there must be money to be made in it. No industry, no matter how beneficial, is going to make it unless money is to be made.
Even with oil prices falling in the short term, the volatility of the market, makes it less safe for stockholders. And after seeing record earnings as oil prices rose for ExxonMobil and others, it could be that now prices are falling investors are wondering if profits will fall also, thus making the stock less attractive.
But energy producing technologies such as solar and wind, and energy saving technologies such as LED lights do not have the same volatility. These are all technologies ready to explode across America. They have become more technologically mature and thus easier to implement in our homes and in manufacturing.Wal-Mart’s studies into solar power and its successful promotion of fluorescent bulbs shows that there must be money to be made since Wal-Mart does not enter into losing situations.
Global warming is another big factor in the increase in alternative energy. Some of this concern is altruistic, but most is financial. How much money is lost if just New York City is underwater? What governmental regulations will be put in place if not in this session of Congress, then the next? With cities, states and other nations already regulating for greenhouse gas emissions, any business can see that more regulation will be on the way.
The final reason that alternative energy is going to expand this year: Iraq. I believe we are all tired of sending our young men and women to fight in the deserts of the Middle East to keep everyone’s car running, our food fertilized, and our houses warm.
Look for rollouts of alternative energy and energy saving technologies to increase throughout the next two years.
I have some money in the market right now, and I just recently moved it into some green funds. I think that you are right on the money with your predictions. Giant corporations are starting to see that there is MONEY to be made. Another case of money hungry companies trying to exploit a trend. Hopefully, this will make our country a better place to live in, and more people will take the environmental lifestyle more seriously.
I hope more and more people are thinking like you Todd.
The bad news is that today, Oil is as profitable as ever, and it seems that it will continue to become more profitable. Right now there is not enough business incentive to seriously pursue, alternative energey sources.
Alternate energy sources are still slowly catching up, and will be as attractive as Oil.
Recycling is very attractive today with amazing potencial to grow.