"If we cannot put solar power plants in the Mojave desert...

[RandomGuy]

Short list of private renewable energy companies

Abengoa, SA BMAD ABG - Solar thermal
Aleo solar FWB AS1 2006 Photovoltaics
Alternative Energy, LTD LSE ALR 2003 Renewables
Americas Wind Energy Corporation OTC AWNE 2006 Wind
Applied Solar, INC NASDAQ - 2005 Photovoltaics [1]
Ascent Solar Technologies, INC NASDAQ ASTI 2006 Photovoltaics
Aventine Renewable Energy NYSE AVR - Bioenergy
Canadian Hydro Developers, INC TSX KHD 2001 Hydro
Canadian Solar, INC NASDAQ CSIQ 2006 Photovoltaics
Centrosolar Group, AG FWB C3O 2005 Photovoltaics
Ceramic Fuel Cells, LTD ASX CFU 2004 Fuel Cells
China Sunergy Co, LTD NASDAQ CSUN 2007 Photovoltaics
Clipper Windpower, PLC LSE CWP 2005 Wind
Conergy, AG FWB CGY - Photovoltaics
Clenergen Corporation, OTC CRGE - Biomass
Dyesol, LTD ASX DYE 2005 Photovoltaics
DayStar Technologies, INC NASDAQ DSTI 2004 Photovoltaics
DelSolar Co, LTD - 3599 - Photovoltaics
ersol Solar Energy, AG FWB ES6 - Photovoltaics
Eaga, PLC LSE EAGA 2007 Energy Efficiency
EarthFirst Canada, INC TSX EF 2007 Wind
Energy Conversion Devices, INC NASDAQ ENER 1993 Photovoltaics
E-ton Solar Technology Co, LTD - 3452 - Photovoltaics
Evergreen Solar, INC NASDAQ ESLR 2000 Photovoltaics
EnviroMission, LTD ASX EVM 2005 Solar Thermal
EDP Renováveis, SA BVLP EDPR 2007 Wind [2]
Finavera Renewables, INC TSX FVR 2006 Renewables
First American Scientific Corp. OTCBB FASC 1995 Biomass
First Solar Holding, LLC NASDAQ FSLR 2007 Photovoltaics
Gintech Energy Corporation - 3514 2007 Photovoltaics
Good Energy Group, PLC LSE GEGP - Renewables
Green Energy Holding Corporation OTC GEYO 2007 Renewables
Green Plains Renewable Energy, INC NASDAQ GPRE 2007 Ethanol
GT Solar International, INC NASDAQ SOLR 2008 Solar Mfg Equipment
Iberdrola Renovables, SA BMAD IBR December 2007 Wind, Solar, Biomass
Innergex Renewable Energy, INC TSX INE 2007 Renewables
JA Solar Holdings Co, LTD NASDAQ JASO 2007 Photovoltaics
Kedco PLC AIM KED 2008 Bio Energy
Jetion Solar Holdings LTD AIM JHL 2007 Photovoltaics
LDK Solar Co, LTD NYSE LDK 2007 Photovoltaics
Neo Solar Power Corporation - 3576 - Photovoltaics
Nevada Geothermal Power, INC OTC NGLPF 2005 Geothermal
Nordex, AG FWB NDX 2001 Wind
Phoenix Solar, AG FWB PS4 2004 Photovoltaics
Polaris Geothermal, INC TSX GEO 2002 Geothermal
Pristine Power, INC TSX PRX 2002 Cogeneration
PV Crystalox Solar, PLC LSE PVCS 2007 Photovoltaics
Q-Cells, AG FWB QCE - Photovoltaics
ReneSolar, LTD AIM SOL 2007 Photovoltaics
Renewable Energy Corporation, ASA OSX REC 2006 Photovoltaics
Renewable Energy Generation, LTD LSE RWE 2005 Renewables
Renewable Energy Holdings, PLC LSE REH 2005 Renewables
Renewable Energy Resources, INC OTC RWER 2008 Hydro
Renewagy, AS OMX REN - Renewables
REpower Systems, AG FWB RPW 2006 Wind
Run of River Power, INC TSX ROR 2005 Hydro
SAG Solarstrom, AG FWB SAG - Photovoltaics
Solar-Fabrik, AG FWB SFX - Photovoltaics
Solarfun Power Holdings Co, LTD NASDAQ SOLF 2006 Photovoltaics
SolarWorld, AG FWB SWV - Photovoltaics
Solco, LTD ASX SOO 2000 Solar Thermal
SunPower Corporation NASDAQ SPWR - Photovoltaics
Suntech Power NYSE STP - Photovoltaics
Tiger Renewable Energy, LTD OTC TGRW - Ethanol
Trina Solar, LTD NASDAQ TSL 2006 Photovoltaics
Verenium Corporation NASDAQ VRNM - Biofuels
Vestas Wind Systems, AS OMX VWS - Wind
WaterFurnace Renewable Energy, INC TSX WFI 2001 Geothermal
Western Geopower Corporation TSX WGP 2001 Geothermal
Western Wind Energy Corporation TSX WND 2001 Wind
Windflow Technology, LTD NZAX WTL 2001 Wind
Yingli Green Energy Holding Co, LTD

Yup. Smart capital knows that oil is running out, and that alternatives will be needed, so you are seeing a flood of money being poured in.

You also forgot my personal favorite:
Solar Reserve

http://www.solarreserve.com/

SolarReserve was formed to solve two of the fundamental barriers of renewable energy: scalability and storage. Unlike hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, and other renewable energy technologies that use limited renewable fuel sources, SolarReserve's power plants draw their heat from the sun - earth's ultimate source of clean energy. And unlike wind and photovoltaics, SolarReserve's power plants can deliver power whenever it is needed, either 24 hours per day or only during "peak" demand. By overcoming these two key barriers, SolarReserve enables utility-scale, clean, renewable electricity generation.

I would also add GE to that mix, simply because of the amount of money they put into various technologies.

[RandomGuy]

How about at the bottom of the ocean in the marianna trench?

or maybe drill holes in the ocean's crust and bury them down there?

or what happens when you throw this waste into an active volcano? will the lava melt it, disperse it to small quan ies of radiation or even destroy it?

The Marianna trench is an idea that makes the rounds every once in a while.

The problem with that is that humanity has visited that trench for a grand total of 15 minutes, once a few years ago, with no plans on going back.

They have some general idea as to what goes on down there geologically, but they aren't all that sure about it.

Sink some money into some science to see if it is feasible, and that might do the trick.

The problem with throwing it into an active volcano is that volcanos are points where magma is coming UP. If you put it into a volcano, it WILL come out. Radiation would likely not be affected. Worse you put all that concentrated waste into it, and have it "blow its top" and you get the equivalent of global nuclear fallout, ala chernobyl. That would make it a Very Bad Idea.

[Wild Cobra]

Sink some money into some science to see if it is feasible, and that might do the trick.

My only concern is not knowing the biological life in the area. If we don't know how we might affect deep sea life, it's a terrible idea.

[boutons_deux]

WC Cares (c) about non-white, non-conservative, non-USA life? GMAFB

[DarrinS]

WC Cares (c) about non-white, non-conservative, non-USA life? GMAFB

boutons_ is a white liberal with no black friends.

Correction: no friends

[RandomGuy]

My only concern is not knowing the biological life in the area. If we don't know how we might affect deep sea life, it's a terrible idea.

Seriously, who are you and what have you done with the poster formerly known as Wild Cobra? Where is the body buried?

If I didn't know any better I would almost say you have mellowed slightly.

I was actually going to put this in as one of the reservations I have about dumping all manner of permanent nuclear waste in the trench, but left it unsaid.

We have very little idea how the ecosystem there interacts with the rest of the ocean. If something ruptures and leaks, a near inevitability, I would rather not have that stuff seeping into the food chain.

[Wild Cobra]

WC Cares (c) about non-white, non-conservative, non-USA life? GMAFB

You just proved how absolutely stupid you are.

[Wild Cobra]

Seriously, who are you and what have you done with the poster formerly known as Wild Cobra? Where is the body buried?

Just goes to prove you have a biased opinion of me. Your bad, not mine.

[RandomGuy]

Just goes to prove you have a biased opinion of me. Your bad, not mine.

Guilty as charged.

Stop taking confirmation bias to an art form, look beyond your beliefs a bit at your underlying assumptions, and that bias will disappear. Honest.

[Wild Cobra]

Guilty as charged.

Stop taking confirmation bias to an art form, look beyond your beliefs a bit at your underlying assumptions, and that bias will disappear. Honest.

Excuse me if I don't believe you. I disagree I use confirmation bias. I think you're calling a rectangle a square. Remember, a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is only rarely a square.

[xrayzebra]

Short list of private renewable energy companies

Abengoa, SA BMAD ABG - Solar thermal
Aleo solar FWB AS1 2006 Photovoltaics
Alternative Energy, LTD LSE ALR 2003 Renewables
Americas Wind Energy Corporation OTC AWNE 2006 Wind
Applied Solar, INC NASDAQ - 2005 Photovoltaics [1]
Ascent Solar Technologies, INC NASDAQ ASTI 2006 Photovoltaics
Aventine Renewable Energy NYSE AVR - Bioenergy
Canadian Hydro Developers, INC TSX KHD 2001 Hydro
Canadian Solar, INC NASDAQ CSIQ 2006 Photovoltaics
Centrosolar Group, AG FWB C3O 2005 Photovoltaics
Ceramic Fuel Cells, LTD ASX CFU 2004 Fuel Cells
China Sunergy Co, LTD NASDAQ CSUN 2007 Photovoltaics
Clipper Windpower, PLC LSE CWP 2005 Wind
Conergy, AG FWB CGY - Photovoltaics
Clenergen Corporation, OTC CRGE - Biomass
Dyesol, LTD ASX DYE 2005 Photovoltaics
DayStar Technologies, INC NASDAQ DSTI 2004 Photovoltaics
DelSolar Co, LTD - 3599 - Photovoltaics
ersol Solar Energy, AG FWB ES6 - Photovoltaics
Eaga, PLC LSE EAGA 2007 Energy Efficiency
EarthFirst Canada, INC TSX EF 2007 Wind
Energy Conversion Devices, INC NASDAQ ENER 1993 Photovoltaics
E-ton Solar Technology Co, LTD - 3452 - Photovoltaics
Evergreen Solar, INC NASDAQ ESLR 2000 Photovoltaics
EnviroMission, LTD ASX EVM 2005 Solar Thermal
EDP Renováveis, SA BVLP EDPR 2007 Wind [2]
Finavera Renewables, INC TSX FVR 2006 Renewables
First American Scientific Corp. OTCBB FASC 1995 Biomass
First Solar Holding, LLC NASDAQ FSLR 2007 Photovoltaics
Gintech Energy Corporation - 3514 2007 Photovoltaics
Good Energy Group, PLC LSE GEGP - Renewables
Green Energy Holding Corporation OTC GEYO 2007 Renewables
Green Plains Renewable Energy, INC NASDAQ GPRE 2007 Ethanol
GT Solar International, INC NASDAQ SOLR 2008 Solar Mfg Equipment
Iberdrola Renovables, SA BMAD IBR December 2007 Wind, Solar, Biomass
Innergex Renewable Energy, INC TSX INE 2007 Renewables
JA Solar Holdings Co, LTD NASDAQ JASO 2007 Photovoltaics
Kedco PLC AIM KED 2008 Bio Energy
Jetion Solar Holdings LTD AIM JHL 2007 Photovoltaics
LDK Solar Co, LTD NYSE LDK 2007 Photovoltaics
Neo Solar Power Corporation - 3576 - Photovoltaics
Nevada Geothermal Power, INC OTC NGLPF 2005 Geothermal
Nordex, AG FWB NDX 2001 Wind
Phoenix Solar, AG FWB PS4 2004 Photovoltaics
Polaris Geothermal, INC TSX GEO 2002 Geothermal
Pristine Power, INC TSX PRX 2002 Cogeneration
PV Crystalox Solar, PLC LSE PVCS 2007 Photovoltaics
Q-Cells, AG FWB QCE - Photovoltaics
ReneSolar, LTD AIM SOL 2007 Photovoltaics
Renewable Energy Corporation, ASA OSX REC 2006 Photovoltaics
Renewable Energy Generation, LTD LSE RWE 2005 Renewables
Renewable Energy Holdings, PLC LSE REH 2005 Renewables
Renewable Energy Resources, INC OTC RWER 2008 Hydro
Renewagy, AS OMX REN - Renewables
REpower Systems, AG FWB RPW 2006 Wind
Run of River Power, INC TSX ROR 2005 Hydro
SAG Solarstrom, AG FWB SAG - Photovoltaics
Solar-Fabrik, AG FWB SFX - Photovoltaics
Solarfun Power Holdings Co, LTD NASDAQ SOLF 2006 Photovoltaics
SolarWorld, AG FWB SWV - Photovoltaics
Solco, LTD ASX SOO 2000 Solar Thermal
SunPower Corporation NASDAQ SPWR - Photovoltaics
Suntech Power NYSE STP - Photovoltaics
Tiger Renewable Energy, LTD OTC TGRW - Ethanol
Trina Solar, LTD NASDAQ TSL 2006 Photovoltaics
Verenium Corporation NASDAQ VRNM - Biofuels
Vestas Wind Systems, AS OMX VWS - Wind
WaterFurnace Renewable Energy, INC TSX WFI 2001 Geothermal
Western Geopower Corporation TSX WGP 2001 Geothermal
Western Wind Energy Corporation TSX WND 2001 Wind
Windflow Technology, LTD NZAX WTL 2001 Wind
Yingli Green Energy Holding Co, LTD

Are these the same companies that import all their hardware from
overseas? And I would be interested in how many people each company
employs. Maybe 1 or 2 or maeby none. Just front companies.

[RandomGuy]

Are these the same companies that import all their hardware from
overseas? And I would be interested in how many people each company
employs. Maybe 1 or 2 or maeby none. Just front companies.

Oh ye of little faith.

A Once-Dark Polaroid Factory Goes Green

Start-up spurns Texas for Mich. town

In a few weeks, says Chitre, the first shipments of heavy machinery will hit this factory floor so GlobalWatt can produce up to a million solar panels a year. This facility used to churn out engine blocks for cars. Lots of auto jobs are gone, but Chitre says his company will be hiring some 500 people for the new operation.

That is just a couple of news sniglets.

If you actually read through the list of companies there, you can see that many of them are publicly traded.

For your browsing convenience, and because I myself was curious here are a couple nuggets with hotlinks to yahoo finance listings for the specific stocks. These are a couple of the companies that I have heard of, and that can be found traded on US exchanges.

I listed net stockholder equity, because it is a good measure of capital waiting to get sunk into factories and so forth.

First Solar Holding, LLC NASDAQ FSLR 2007 Photovoltaics Net stockholder equity $2.6bn

SunPower Corporation NASDAQ SPWR - Photovoltaics (note ticker is actually SPWRA- Net stock holder equity $1.3bn

Those two are the largest traded on US exchanges that I found, but they certainly had more than "1 or 2" employees, and were definitely not front companies.

[RandomGuy]

bumpity

[RandomGuy]

Since thread les with ellipses are all the rage... bump.

[Yonivore]

...I don't know where the we can put it,"
--Governator Schwarzenegger

I am generally for environmental protection, but at some point there MUST be a trade off. This looks like something that would require such give.

I agree.

How does it feel to have your pet cause held hostage by a few environmental extremists?

As for me, I draw the line a bit closer to realistic energy sources...like the XL Pipeline, ANWR Drilling and a return to the Gulf of Mexico.

But, if you want to illuminate the obstruction of legitimate public concerns by a few nuts, who am I to argue.

Good luck with that.

[coyotes_geek]

Looks like they're still trying to work through some issues.

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/04...pec-55255.html

[RandomGuy]

I agree.

How does it feel to have your pet cause held hostage by a few environmental extremists?

As for me, I draw the line a bit closer to realistic energy sources...like the XL Pipeline, ANWR Drilling and a return to the Gulf of Mexico.

But, if you want to illuminate the obstruction of legitimate public concerns by a few nuts, who am I to argue.

Good luck with that.

It feels ty. the turtle, gimmie power plants. Over the long run, it is better from all of us anyway.

As for your picks, "realistic" is funny. You do realize that none of those things will really affect the long-term price of oil by more than a few pennies per barrel, right?

[boutons_deux]

Goldmen Sacks Us All and other capitalists investing heavily in wind power, so I guess the right-wing hate-o-sphere is wrong, again.

[Heath Ledger]

Feinstein blocking this doesnt surprise me she is just protecting someones interests, follow the money.....

[DMC]

You never know.

[2centsworth]

First Solar Holding, LLC NASDAQ FSLR 2007 Photovoltaics Net stockholder equity $2.6bn

SunPower Corporation NASDAQ SPWR - Photovoltaics (note ticker is actually SPWRA- Net stock holder equity $1.3bn

Solar getting crushed. First Solar the best of the PV companies had a losing quarter and there are rumors their panels can't tolerate extreme heat. These companies can't stand on their own two feet without government subsidies. I learned this the hard way losing 50% of an investment in FSLR. I knew better, but fell for the story.

[Wild Cobra]

Solar getting crushed. First Solar the best of the PV companies had a losing quarter and there are rumors their panels can't tolerate extreme heat. These companies can't stand on their own two feet without government subsidies. I learned this the hard way losing 50% of an investment in FSLR. I knew better, but fell for the story.

Lesson learned:

Don't invest in anything advocated by Obamanomics.

[RandomGuy]

Solar getting crushed. First Solar the best of the PV companies had a losing quarter and there are rumors their panels can't tolerate extreme heat. These companies can't stand on their own two feet without government subsidies. I learned this the hard way losing 50% of an investment in FSLR. I knew better, but fell for the story.

I think a LOT of people did.

FSLR got a lot of good press and people jumped on the bandwagon.

Long-term, the industry is consolidating, and come out the other end far stronger for having shaken out the weaker companies.

I think there was something of a bubble around them that collapsed with the financial crisis.

Current valuations are much more sane, IMO. Fukushima didn't hurt.

[RandomGuy]

Lesson learned:

Don't invest in anything advocated by Obamanomics.

You do know that these companies existed far before Obama was president, right?

[coyotes_geek]

On a somewhat topical, somewhat off topic note, anyone have any thoughts/knowledge about solar attic fans? Casa de CG recently has recently undergone a free energy audit and one of the recommendations was to install solar attic fans to help cool off the attic, thus reducing AC costs.

Being a fan (pun intended) of lowered electric bills, I'm interested, provided the things are actually going to work like the person trying to sell them to me is telling me they will. The inspector (a.k.a. the salesman) told me that the fans could (operative word being "could") reduce my summertime electric bills up to 20%. Anyone have an idea how realistic that number is?