Could Hype Sell An Inferior Hybrid? - Ford Fusion versus Toyota Camry

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:49:14 GMT

Someone must have a really good press agent to get this one so much attention. According to a U.S. News and World Report review, two automotive publications have published comparisons of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid against the Toyota Prius and Camry Hybrid, with Ford winning both. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Why The Former Energy Secretary Should Keep His Mouth Shut!

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:50:50 GMT

How appropriate it was to hear Sam Bodman, the Energy Secretary under the Bush administration, make the following statement last week in regards to Obama's plan to double our output of renewable energy in three years.... It's a must read.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Detroit Auto Show Reveals Opportunities For Sustainable Investment

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:00:30 GMT

So what will it take to get the big auto-makers to manufacture new, more fuel-efficient vehicles? How about massive losses, uncertain oil prices, and a big fat recession. While the auto industry should have been on this like white on rice at least ten years ago, it looks like arrogance and complete disregard for long-term planning may finally be giving way to the reality of an oil-strapped future. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Has Obama's Inauguration Speech Been Leaked?

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:15:40 GMT

So it looks like a copy of Barack Obama's inauguration speech has been leaked. Here's an excerpt... "Energy will be the immediate test of our ability to unite this nation, and it can also be the standard around which we rally. On the battlefield of energy we can win for our nation a new confidence, and we can seize control again of our common destiny. Our excessive dependence on OPEC has already taken a tremendous toll on our economy and our people. It's a cause of the increased inflation and unemployment that we now face. This intolerable dependence on foreign oil threatens our economic independence and the very security of our nation. The energy crisis is real. It is worldwide. It is a clear and present danger to our nation. These are facts and we simply must face them."
Now for the truth...... Read the full story on TreeHugger

EPA's Most Wanted List: Will The Ironies Ever End?

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:51:33 GMT

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a new most-wanted list that focuses on environmental fugitives. These are folks that have done things like smuggled harmful chemicals, dumped hazardous waste into rivers and trafficked in polluting cars. I must admit that I find it a bit ironic that the very agency that refused to grant California a waiver to regulate tailpipe emissions for greenhouse gases, has climbed up on its eco-horse to point fingers. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Doubting Renewable Energy

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:00:20 GMT

Last week I spoke to a small group of investors about renewable energy, and the potential we see for certain renewable energy stocks in 2009. Now I don't typically do a lot of these types of meetings. Maybe four or five a year. To be honest, I'd rather these folks just read my weekly updates. This way, I don't have to jack up my carbon footprint by flying all over the country. However, for investors that are new to this sector, certainly it helps when you can ask direct questions and get direct answers. Now over the years, I've come to expect two things from these types of meetings: A genuine interest in renewable energy investing, and the always-present disruption from some guy who thinks global warming is some kind of liberal trick or that more coal and more drilling makes more sense then building out a large-scale sustainable, renewable energy infrastructure. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Don't Underestimate Whole Foods

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:18:16 GMT

Organic vegetables. Image credit:Davidson|Read Associates It's hard to believe that Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ:WFMI) was trading in the $50 range just one year ago. Today, the stock is struggling to stay above $10 a share. Of course these days, few stocks are immune from the global economic implosion we're dealing with now. But Whole Foods has become that one company that I can't help but to defend. You see, when Whole Foods first went public, it was a punching bag for every armchair analyst and media blowhard that took some kind of sick pleasure in the fact that in the first nine months of its IPO, the stock had dipped more than 30 percent. Of course, we cheered (and profited), after the stock enjoyed a meteoric rise in the years that followed. But now that the stock has been beaten back down again, the naysayers are back with a vengeance.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Falling Gas Prices: Don't Get Too Comfortable

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:13:16 GMT

I was riding my bike to the store last weekend when I saw a long line of cars waiting to fill up at the corner gas station. 87 Octane was going for $2.89, and it looked liked no one wanted to risk missing out on this "bargain" before prices shot back up. Though the reality is, gas prices will likely remain below $3.00 for just a little longer. The fact is, a weakening economy has created fertile ground for falling gas prices. And this is not likely to ease up in the short-term. However, folks shouldn't get too comfortable. Because while economic downturns and recessionary times don't last forever - depleted fossil fuels do. And that's why these lower gas prices represent nothing more than a blip.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Pork Or Progress? Congress Wallows In The Tar Sands, While Passing Renewable Energy Credits

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:47:46 GMT

Last week we got word that renewable energy tax incentives would be included in the financial bailout bill. Knowing full well that the bill would make it through the House this time around (thanks primarily to an avalanche of pork that continues to feed the bureaucratic machine), solar and wind supporters began to cheer. After a long year of begging for crumbs so we can strengthen our energy infrastructure and employ 4.2 million hard-working folks in the renewable energy sector, the lifeline was finally offered. In the bill, investment tax credits for commercial and residential solar projects were extended through 2016, and the $2,000 cap on credits for residential solar projects was removed. Also extended was the production tax credit for wind through 2009, and biomass through 2010.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Can Sarah Palin Become an Energy Security Specialist?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:45:27 GMT

So it looks like Sarah Palin has declared that she'll be taking on energy security as her primary mission if McCain wins the election. If that doesn't make you feel all warm and fuzzy, I don't know what will. After all, this is the same person who told Investor's Business Daily that she believes we CAN drill our way out of the mess we're in today. If the mindless chants of "Drill Baby Drill" didn't strike fear into those with a basic understanding of science and reality, certainly the thought of a pro-oil, anti-renewable bureaucrat taking on U.S. energy security will. Eh, what's another 4 years of failed energy policy, anyway?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Washington Hides From Oil's Demise

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:00:51 GMT

When I was in the seventh grade, I brought home my first bad report card. Needless to say, my father was not happy. He asked me why I was getting a "D" in History. I had a long list of reasons: * The teacher didn't like me. * It was first period and I was tired. * The kid next to me kept distracting me. * Maybe the teacher made a mistake. * It's too hard. The list went on and on. But my father wasn't having it. He told me that I needed to stop looking for excuses, and start making some progress. Otherwise, I'd be grounded. Too bad we can't do the same with our elected officials! ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Minimizing Risk in the Renewable Energy Market

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:06:05 GMT

Photo: Butch Martin/Getty Images There's little doubt that the basic fundamentals of supply and demand will dictate the long-term success of the renewable energy market. As energy demand increases, and fossil fuel supplies decrease, it will be renewables that fill the void. And no amount of doublespeak, misinformation or market manipulation can change that. However, this doesn't mean that the renewable energy industry is immune to market volatility. We're now seeing proof of that as eight years of failed economic policies and irresponsible borrowing and lending practices have wreaked havoc on Wall Street. Though it's ultimately the individual investor that gets hit the hardest. And that's unfortunate. Especially for renewable energy investors who are trying to invest responsibly. Because during this time of economic uncertainty, we're seeing a lot of quality renewable energy stocks struggle against the backdrop of an economic downturn.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Another Way To Profit From Alternative Energy

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:02:15 GMT

photo credit: Arctic-Images/Getty Images There's no doubt that investors can make a lot of money by investing in the right alternative energy stocks. And of course, there's the added bonus that these investments are backing those companies that can enable a safer, cleaner energy infrastructure. One that is not reliant upon fossil fuels. It really is a win-win situation. The trick however, is finding those alternative energy stocks that have what it takes to deliver over the long-haul. We're talking about... - Solar manufacturers that boast high efficiencies and low-cost operations - Wind farm developers that are actively expanding their operations, but also generate revenue - Geothermal firms with multiple, long-term power purchase agreements locked in for the next 10 to 20 years. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Electric Cars Signal How Auto Companies Can Make a Profitable Transition to a New Economy

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:35:04 GMT

Last week, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. announced that it will begin selling its electric car, the i-MiEV, to individual customers starting in 2009. When this news came out, the Company's stock picked up just over 2 percent in early trading-while pretty much all of the other major auto-manufacturers saw their shares decline. Did this little piece of news add value to the stock? Of course not. An announcement that the Company's rolling out with 2,000 units in the first of year launch does not add value to the stock. However, this announcement shouldn't be brushed aside. In fact, it's one more reason investors should be paying close attention to this early transition of personal transportation. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Why the U.S. Is Not Addicted to Oil

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:27:19 GMT

In 2006, President Bush announced to the world that we were addicted to oil. Given the President's track record and horribly failed energy policies, I didn't really buy what he was trying to sell. The fact is, I could write an entire book about why his declaration to wean us off oil (which was made more than two years ago) doesn't quite match up with the administration's continued agenda of impeding the growth of promising alternatives. But let's face it: In these pages, I'd just be preaching to the choir. And my intention is not to tell you something you already know, but rather share with you the information and data that I use on a regular basis to validate the economic superiority of alternatives to fossil fuels. And that's why I'm asking you today... Are we really addicted to oil? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Big Oil Economics: The Greatest Welfare Scam Ever!

Fri, 30 May 2008 10:34:49 GMT

Have you ever noticed that when gas prices shoot up, local news reporters like to recite laundry lists of things we can do to save money at the pump? I'm sure you've heard them all by now... - Don't speed - Keep your tires properly inflated - Get a hybrid car My favorite was one that involved staggering your work hours in an effort to avoid peak rush hours. I don't know about you, but I don't know a lot of folks that really have that option. Not that any of this really matters, anyway. The bottom line is, we're running out of cheap oil. This is a sinking ship being held together by duct tape and misguided optimism. And no amount of tire inflating or work hour modifications can change that. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

How the Economics of Renewable Energy Have Been Validated

Sat, 24 May 2008 08:00:47 GMT

Image credit: T.J. Florian - Rainbow/Getty Images Jeff Siegel is the cofounder and managing editor of Green Chip Stocks, an investment advisory service that focuses exclusively on renewable energy and organic food markets. He will be guest blogging on TreeHugger regularly. As we get closer and closer to the next election, it's becoming increasingly clear that the majority of the voting public is extremely concerned about energy security and climate change. How else do you explain the fact that all the candidates, on both sides of the aisle, are touting climate change and renewable energy initiatives? But the reality is, no matter who moves into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and no matter how much legislation gets kicked around on the Hill, if the economics cannot support the large-scale integration of renewable energy, it simply will not happen. So it should be with great enthusiasm that today, we can prove the economic superiority of renewable energy to non-renewable energy. Show Me the Data! Wearing the label of environmentalist has never been easy. Over the past few decades especially, just uttering the words global warming http://www.ipcc.ch/ or renewable energy brought forth an avalanche of skepticism and hostility. Most of which has been based more on social or political philosophy than on actual data. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Sat, 21 May 2005 12:06:05 GMT

Jeff Siegel is the cofounder and managing editor of Green Chip Stocks, an investment advisory service that focuses exclusively on renewable energy and organic food markets. He is often cited in the media, and has been a featured guest on Fox, MSNBC and Bloomberg Asia. Siegel also works as a consultant for corporations and industry publications, and is a frequent speaker at investment and renewable energy conferences and seminars. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Jeff Siegel, Green Chip Stocks