Invest in Cleantech

Invest in Cleantech

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Consumers Continue to Demand Environmentally Friendly Cars and Automakers Respond with Electric, Plug-in Hybrids and Flex-Fuel ‘Green’ Vehicles

RenewableEnergyStocks.com – Issues of Global Warming, Fuel Prices and Energy Independence Drive Demand for Cleantech Vehicles

POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC – December 7, 2006, www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com, a leading investor and industry portal for the renewable energy sector, reviews the momentum surrounding the green car industry as global warming, costly fuel prices and the need for energy independence drives demand. Alternative transportation companies such as electric car developer and distributor ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) with current electric models on the market today, and ethanol producer Green Plains Renewable Energy (NASDAQ: GPRE), work to capitalize on consumer demands for cleaner vehicles and fuels. With the shift towards green cars taking hold, automakers such as Honda, General Motors, Toyota and others are stepping up efforts for further research and development in this area.

As the auto industry faces recent slipping sales, clean energy vehicles are catching the attention of consumers looking for efficiency and environmentally friendly alternatives, giving manufacturers a new direction for growth. The momentum behind green cars is a reaction to a variety of factors such as fuel prices despite current declines, environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and global national energy security concerns.

This week many new clean energy vehicles are being introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, a platform for the unveiling of current and future alternative vehicles. Creating a buzz were displays of plug-in hybrids, which use electric motors with a gasoline engine as a backup, and electric vehicles that run entirely on electricity. Also in the mix were natural gas, ethanol and biodiesel vehicles. Another event, the AltCars Expo this weekend in Santa Monica, is shaping up to be the one of the premiere events for alternative fuel vehicles, and many of the new models and concepts will be present.

Recently, major automakers Toyota, Honda, General Motors and Nissan revealed a future that includes the production of various clean energy models. General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner has announced GM’s plans to develop a plug-in hybrid for its Saturn Vue Green Line SUV, but with no specific date for production revealed. General Motors has also unveiled the concept behind the Hummer “O2” which converts carbon dioxide to oxygen using algae-filled body panels.

General Motors is also focusing on cars that run on ethanol (E85) as part of their overall corporate environmental strategy moving forward. With ethanol becoming more widely available, as more producers such as Green Plains Renewable Energy (NASDAQ: GPRE) bring plant production online, these flex-fuel vehicles offer automakers viable near term opportunities while they continue to develop their next generation of green cars.

Hyundai is committing research efforts to hydrogen-powered fuel cells and vehicles that run on clean diesel as well as gas-electric hybrids. Honda is also looking at fuel cells with plans for hydrogen-powered sedans for 2008. Toyota Motor Corp, the largest seller of traditional hybrids, is another major automaker talking about developing plug-in models.

While many companies pursue the plug-in hybrid models, full electric vehicles are rapidly grabbing industry attention. While there are very few publicly owned companies currently offering mass-produced electric cars, one private firm Tesla Motors is showcasing its new Roadster prototype, planned for limited production as early as 2007, but with a price tag of $100,000USD. Nissan has plans for a 125-mile range all-electric car, but plans for production are targeted for 2010.

Electric car manufacturer and distributor ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) has a jump on the market with the only mass-produced and affordable electric car available for sale today. ZAP’s XEBRA city-car and truck is currently on sale through dealerships in Los Angeles for approximately $10,000USD. With most automakers looking several years down the road for market entry of most plug-in hybrids and electric models, ZAP appears well positioned to fill today’s consumer demands.

As a sign of things to come Yahoo! has created a special feature within Yahoo! Autos dedicated to green cars including ratings, technological overviews as well as community information and news pointing towards further validation of the potential behind the green car market.

To read more on ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) visit: http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/CO/ZAAP/Default.asp or the Company’s website at www.zapworld.com

To read more on Green Plains Renewable Energy (NASDAQ: GPRE) visit: http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/co/gpre/ or the Company’s website at: www.gpreethanol.com

ZAP and Green Plains Renewable Energy are featured companies on www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com™, an investor and industry portal within the InvestorIdeas.com™ content umbrella. InvestorIdeas.com™ does not make recommendations, but offers investors research, news, blogs, RSS Feeds, online conferences, interviews and links to public companies within the renewable energy and cleantech sector. The green technology investor portals also provide content through the Clean Energy News Blog, Renewable Energy Blog and articles by solar expert, J. Peter Lynch, all available on RenewableEnergyStocks.com™.

For InvestorIdeas.com™ compensation details see disclaimer below.

This InvestorIdeas.com portal also includes one of the most comprehensive stock lists in the renewable energy sector: http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/Companies/RenewableEnergy/Stock_List.asp

RenewableEnergyStocks.com™ translated in German: http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/RES_deu/Default.asp

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and/or IR firm and is not the opinion of our web sites. The site is currently compensated by its "featured companies." Green Plains Renewable Energy (NASDAQ: GPRE) contract extended 30 days, expenses only; ZAP (OTCBB ZAAP) pays Two thousand five hundred per month equivalent in shares for one year commencing Nov 2006, discounted as a courtesy to previous sponsorship of the InvestorIdeas Greentech contest. www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp

For more information contact:

Dawn Van Zant 800.665.0411
Ann-Marie Fleming 866.725.2554
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com, or afleming@investorideas.com

Source: RenewableEnergyStocks.com™, ZAP, Green Plains Renewable Energy

Monday, December 04, 2006

Global Shortages, Aging Equipment, Global Warming and Pollution Drive Investments in Infrastructure and Water Purification

POINT ROBERTS, Wash., December 4, 2006 - http://www.water-stocks.com/ (WS), an investor and industry news portal for the water sector, continues its InvestorIdeas.com™ ‘Follow the Money’ series with perspectives on investments within the water industry. Global water shortages, aging equipment and continued contamination from pollution drives investments into infrastructure and water purification. Water sector participants such as WaterBank of America (USA) Inc. (OTCBB: WBKA), a manufacturer of hygienic ice cubes and bottled water and Hendrx Corp (OTCBB: HDRX), an established manufacturer of atmospheric water generators, are looking to benefit from the market drivers leading to long term growth for the water business.

Globally the water industry has been estimated as a $400 billion market with signs of long term growth ahead, especially with countries such as China continuing to drive the market as they focus on alleviating many of the region’s water issues such as shortages and contamination from pollution associated with accelerated economic growth. China plans to spend $125 billion on water treatment and recycling over the next five years opening its door to foreign investment and participation in their water market.

Hendrx Corp, (OTCBB: HDRX), a water technology company focused on water generation, filtration, ionization, and purification devices, has targeted their efforts to address many of the needs of developing countries such as China. George Solymar, Chief Executive Officer of Hendrx describes, “The main reason China’s needs have escalated is a result of concentration in population, industry and agriculture. This concentration is to the point where the natural water supply has been overstressed and can no longer accommodate the growth without drastically impacting the environment. As a result, global solutions have to be found to minimize the impact on the environment.”

WaterBank of America’s (OTCBB: WBKA) Chief Operating Officer, Stu Levitan adds, “With all the warnings issued to travelers and citizens with respect to water and ice consumption in China and elsewhere, our secured, ready to freeze ice cubes, ICEROCKS, is a natural complement to all the measures being taken to upgrade China’s water resources. We predict ice consumption from a safe, secure package will be the norm rather than the exception in the near future.”

According to Neil Berlant, Water Group Managing Director and First Vice President at The Seidler Companies, “The capital that is going into the water business is going primarily into two areas; infrastructure and water quality. Infrastructure in general, which is the ever growing demand for pumps, filters, membranes, pipes, etc is driven by the natural deterioration of the infrastructure, which is very old and that process is accelerating. This is coupled with a growing need for higher quality water and more treatment.”

In terms of stock market performance, many of the large water stocks, in particular within the water utilities group, have experienced significant price appreciation since the beginning of the year. Companies such as: SJW Corp has seen its stock price rise over 50%; American States Water Co. has realized an increase of $5.50 per share or 17%; Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. has seen a 18% stock price increase, and United Utilities is up almost 27% since January.

Demand is driven by both the enormity and the increasing need to accommodate the natural deterioration of the existing water systems. “In the aggregate the estimates to replace the aging infrastructure within the United States represents as much as $1 trillion over the next twenty years. That is the backdrop for the enormous amount of growth that’s going to be moving forward over the next decade,” describes Berlant.

Bill Brennan, President & Managing Partner, AquaTerra Investment Management describes consolidation as a key strategy to help address the high costs that accompany repairing and replacing aging infrastructure and equipment. “As the costs associated with treating and distributing water continue to escalate, systems of all sizes are under pressure to maximize efficiency in order to remain financially viable. Larger systems not only possess the greater financial resources required to make these upfront investments, but are also able to spread fixed costs over a greater revenue base. Evidencing the clear benefits of scale, roughly 35% of very small systems operate at a loss while about 90% of very large systems are profitable.”

Recent acquisition activity supports the advantages that consolidation offers. Patrick O’Keefe, CEO of Watts Water Technologies recently stated that $55,573,000 or 24% of the Company’s sales increase in the third quarter was achieved primarily through their acquisitions of Core Industries Inc., Dormont Manufacturing Company and ATS Expansion Group. Watts Water Technologies’ stock price has appreciated approximately 35% since the beginning of the year up over $10.00 with its recent close of $41.90.

U.K. water utility AWG Plc recently announced that it will be acquired by a group of pension funds from Australia and Canada in addition to 3i Group Plc, a world leader in private equity and venture capital, in a deal worth approximately $4.12 billion. Thames Water, owned by German utility RWE AG, is being sold to Kemble Water Limited, a consortium led by Macquarie’s European Infrastructure Funds for close to $14.84 billion.

In addition to the deteriorating infrastructure, there is also a growing demand for a higher quality of water. There is an escalating necessity for a level of water quality that can accommodate the increasingly precise water treatment needs encompassing new systems, as well as the rising purity requirements within electronics manufacturing, food processing, as well as power generation, which is the single largest consumer of high purity water in the country.

According to BCC Research, the US market for municipal drinking water treatment technologies such as membrane filtration, ozone disinfection, and UV radiation, will experience 10.7% growth by 2011 increasing from its current market size of $1.3 billion to $2.1 billion.

To Read More: http://water-stocks.com/Articles/120406a.asp

Featured Water Portal Sponsors: (WS is compensated by HDRX and WBKA as disclosed in disclaimer.)

WaterBank of America (USA) Inc. (OTCBB: WBKA), a manufacturer of hygienic ice cubes and bottled water with a strategy to create and acquire a “bank” of top quality springs to address global water scarcity problems. For More Info: http://www.water-stocks.com/CO/WBKA/Default.asp

Hendrx Corp (OTCBB: HDRX), a manufacturer of atmospheric water generators, filtration, ionization, and purification devices. For More Info: http://www.water-stocks.com/CO/HDRX/Default.asp

http://www.water-stocks.com/ (WS), a portal within the InvestorIdeas.com content umbrella, does not make recommendations but offers investors research, news, blogs, RSS Feeds, online conferences, interviews and links to public companies within the water sector.

Our Current List of Water Stocks: http://www.water-stocks.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

InvestorIdeas.com Disclaimer: http://investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. These sites are currently compensated by its "featured companies." WaterBank of America (USA) Inc. (OTCBB: WBKA) currently pays InvestorIdeas.com $10,000 monthly, $2,000 in cash per month and $8,000 in shares per month. Hendrx Corp. (OTCBB: HDRX) Five thousand dollars per month and a one-time five thousand dollars equivalent in shares.

For More Information Contact:

Dawn Van Zant 800-665-0411
Ann-Marie Fleming 866-725-2554
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com or afleming@investorideas.com

Web Site: http://water-stocks.com/

Source: Water-Stocks.com, Hendrx Corp, WaterBank of America (USA) Inc.