With A Changing Of The Political Guard, Now Is The Time To Harness The Profit Potential Of Wind Power
Tuesday, November 25, 2008: Issue #578
Guest Editorial by Andy Obermueller, The Street Authority
Editor’s Note: Today, we invite our friends from The Street Authority back for a guest editorial. With President-elect Barack Obama poised to take office, many believe that it could herald a fresh round of political support and funding for renewable energy resources. One of the most prominent is wind power. I’ll let Andy Obermueller fill you in on all the enlightening details - and how to profit from this potentially lucrative natural resource. Have a great Thanksgiving holiday.
Martin Denholm, Managing Editor, Smart Profits Report
Windy Ways
The winds of change are coming…
Not only does that include Barack Obama taking office in a little under two months time, it could also include a natural energy resource receiving an increasing amount of attention.
Last year was a breakthrough year for the U.S. wind industry, with total wind-power capacity rising by 45%. That accounted for 30% of all new power production.
And if you think wind made impressive advances when an oilman was in the White House, just wait until President Barack Obama takes office.
During the presidential election, Obama made renewable and alternative energy a key campaign issue, sounding off controversially against the continued use of coal-fired power plants.
“If somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can,” he said during the campaign. “It’s just that it will bankrupt them.”
Global… And Growing At An Accelerated Pace
Recent legislation mandates that at least 15% of U.S. electricity come from green sources by 2020. But under the Obama administration, if all goes according to plan, expect to see calls for 10% of our electricity to come from green sources by 2012 and 25% by 2025. (This tracks with recent legislation mandating 15% by 2020). For more on the proliferation of wind power, read our September edition titled Alternative Energy Sources Are Growing Fast.
The U.S isn’t alone in its call to clean up the environment this way. China’s new energy plans, released in September 2007, included a push to generate 10% of its power from wind by 2010 and 15% by 2015.
And the EU has mandated that 20% of its energy comes from renewable resources like wind by 2020. In some places, such as Denmark, that goal is already a reality. And across Europe, efforts are already well under way to ensure that wind turbines account for roughly one-third of all new generating capacity installed in the next few years. That means providing electricity for 90 million people by 2010.
The wind power movement isn’t limited to large countries like China or to rich countries like the United States. It’s global.
North Africa, the Middle East and certain South American countries have all gotten into the act. The first two regions increased wind energy installations by 42% last year.
And a recent study showed that Egypt, with its strong wind activity in the Suez Gulf, could host 20,000 megawatts of wind farms.
And then there’s Brazil, which has 14 projects totaling 107 megawatts scheduled for completion by the end of the year, and another 900+ megawatts slated for 2009.
This Investment Has Both Power And Potential
And it’s not just governments that are embracing wind power. Even oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens is getting behind this alternative energy trend. He’s wagering $12 billion on an area spanning the Texas panhandle that, when finished, will be the world’s largest wind farm. He’s already ordered 667 turbines from General Electric.
Why has this legendary oil investor hitched his future to wind? Because he knows that this alternative energy source is our best shot at reducing our dependence on foreign oil. In one year, a single 3-megawatt wind turbine produces as much energy as 12,000 barrels of oil - without consuming any natural resources or emitting any pollution or greenhouse gases.
The good news, as Pickens points out, is that the United States is the Saudi Arabia of wind power.
The Great Plains is home to the greatest wind energy potential in the world, and Pickens envisions a string of wind facilities stretching from Texas to North Dakota capable of producing 20% of the nation’s electricity.
But right now, even despite these huge advances, wind power still accounts for a tiny fraction of the world’s energy needs: About 1% in the United States and 1.3% globally.
That’s all set to change, though…
Where Wind Energy Is Going Next
According to the Department of Energy, wind energy could generate 20% of U.S. electricity by 2030. Compared to today, that’s a 40-bagger industry-wide. This means that a few of the best and the brightest wind stocks could easily rise 100-to-1 before it’s all over. To learn more on the projected movements of wind and other alternative energy stocks, please read our bi-weekly Sector Watch column where Jim Stanton tells us How To Profit From Wind despite the “Hot Air” from Washington.
You can do the math. Unless someone discovers the fountain of youth, I doubt you’ll find any industry in the world with as much growth potential.
Check out these other wind facts…
- Wind energy grew 667% between 2000 and 2008, from 2,554 megawatts of installed U.S. capacity to 19,600. In that time, in fact, the United States became the world leader in wind power generation, outpacing Germany.
- A 2005 NASA study pegged the power of the global wind supply at 72 terawatts, or roughly five times global power consumption. That means there is virtually no limit to the degree from which the world can harness this 100% clean, 100% free and 100% renewable resource. It’s only a matter of time, and the clock is ticking.
- The demand for wind power isn’t only strong and globally pervasive, in most nations, it’s been written into law.
- Nearly three-dozen U.S. states that have mandated that utilities buy an increasing amount of their electricity from renewable resources. They literally have to buy wind turbines. And that legal obligation is worthwhile, too. As part of the recent $700 billion TARP bailout, Congress extended a $0.02 per kilowatt-hour production tax credit. That means the cash goes straight to their bottom line instead of to Uncle Sam. Both these factors will continue to provide a strong incentive for wind power.
The changing of the White House guard takes place in less than two months’ time, with Obama practically vowing to turn the White House “green.” Coal power is out. Wind power is in. And the wind industry will likely be the focal point of government mandated energy initiatives for the next few decades.
We’ve pinpointed a select group of FOUR investments that will benefit the most when an unprecedented infusion of government cash is pumped into this industry.
These companies are immune to nearly all outside economic forces and have their sales orders on file in amounts that could set them - and you - up for years to come. Click here to find out how to profit from wind power.
Best regards,
Andy Obermueller
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Related Articles:
Alternative Energy Sources Are Growing Fast
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Alternative Energy Sources: How To Profit From The World’s Carbon Dioxide Dilemma
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[...] With A Changing Of The Political Guard, Now Is The Time To Harness … The changing of the White House guard takes place in less than two months’ time, with Obama practically vowing to turn the White House “green.” Coal power is out. Wind power is in. And the wind industry will likely be the focal point of … [...]