 | | Change of Guard: Wind Power is In |  | Published: 11/22/08 at 7:00 AM ET
Author: Andy Obermueller If you think wind made impressive advances when an oilman was in the White House, just wait for President Barack Obama.  | | In 2007 the clean electricity generated by wind in the U.S. alone prevented the emission of 28 million tons of filthy carbon dioxide. | The nation's incoming president made renewable and alternative energy a key campaign issue. Obama sounded off 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." Obama's plan calls for 10% of our electricity to come from green sources by 2012 and for 25% by 2025. (This tracks with recent legislation mandating 15% by 2020.) The United States' efforts mirrors initiatives in Europe and China. China's new energy plans, released in September 2007, calls for the nation to generate 10% of its power from wind by 2010 and 15% by 2015. The EU has mandated that 20% of its energy comes from renewable sources like wind by 2020. Denmark has achieved this already. Across Europe, wind turbines will account for roughly one-third of all new generating capacity installed in the next few years, and they could provide 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 and the Middle East increased wind energy installations by +42% in 2007. A recent study showed Egypt, which has strong wind in the Suez Gulf, could host 20,000 megawatts of wind farms. Brazil has begun to embrace wind: 14 projects totaling 107 megawatts are expected to be completed this year, with more than 900 megawatts slated for 2009.
But right now, even despite these huge advances, wind power still accounts for an eensy fraction of the world's energy needs -- about 1% in the United States and 1.3% globally.
You can do the math. But unless and until someone discovers the fountain of youth, I doubt you will find any industry in the world with as much growth potential.
| A Strong Case for Wind
Fact: 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.
Fact: 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. Fact: The demand for wind power isn't only strong and globally pervasive, in most nations it has been codified into law. Fact: Nearly three dozen U.S. states that have mandated utilities buy an increasing amount of their electricity from renewable resources. They literally have to buy wind turbines. Not only is there a stick there is also a carrot: Congress, as part of the recent $700 billion TARP bailout, extended a $0.02 per kilowatt hour production tax credit. This means that cash goes straight to their bottom line, not to Uncle Sam. Both of these factors will continue to provide a strong incentive for wind power. | The change of guard in Washington will soon take place. And Obama has practically vowed to turn the White House "green." Coal power is out. Wind power is in. The wind industry will 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. They have their sales orders on file, in amounts that will set them -- and you -- up for years to come. Learn how to profit from wind power.
| Happy investing! |  | -- Andy Obermueller
Investment Strategist
StreetAuthority.com
839-K Quince Orchard Blvd.
Gaithersburg, MD 20878-1614 | |
