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Friday, December 31, 2010

2010 Great for the Stock Market and even better for certain Solar Stocks

2010 Great for the Stock Market and even better for certain Solar Stocks

The Market in 2010

Solar Stocks and Market Commentary with J Peter Lynch

Point Roberts, South Salem, New York – December 31, 2010 - Investorideas.com, a leader in cleantech stock research tools issues new solar stocks commentary from solar contributor, J. Peter Lynch.

Solar Stocks Commentary with J Peter Lynch -
Read other articles, Exclusively for InvestorIdeas.com and Renewableenergystocks.com: http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/PL/


2010 was certainly a year to remember. It had its ups and it had it downs, but in the end it was up an average of 13.87% (averaging the three major indexes – see table below) that is a far better than the average year and despite a constant barrage of terrible news the market continued to climb its “wall of worry”.

With everyone worrying about jobs and the economy the year seemed to be a never ending sequence of one bad set of news after the other. But if there is one think I have learned over the years is NEVER to listen to the talking heads on TV or to the hundreds of “experts” all over the internet who tell you what is going to happen tomorrow based upon what has happened today. That is silly and also, more importantly, impossible. No one can know what is going to happen or why it is going to happen, if you pay close attention you will eventually see that everyone is clearly guessing and guessing is NOT one of the tools that a successful investor employs.

The Importance of seeing “What is” verses what we think “should” be

Let me give you a totally NON logical example that will make it clear that guessing and perhaps "logical" are not really good tools for an investor. I think I can safely say that the top topics for 2010 and the ones that are on everyone's mind are: jobs, the economy, the housing crisis and the persistent recession as it drags on. So, given that background, what do you think were the top 3 market sectors in 2010 in terms of returns for investors?

Give up? Can't even guess?

Well they were:

Autos
Restaurants
Leisure
All of them are consumer related and we all KNOW (for sure?) that this is a terrible recession and that the economy is in bad shape and that it would be impossible for consumer related areas to do well, right?

Wrong! They not only did well they were the best 3 areas.

So what can we learn from this?

What we can learn is that an investor has to STOP thinking they KNOW what "should be" given the circumstances as the investor sees them and realize that the most important thing is NOT what you think should be but "WHAT IS". If umbrella sales are going thru the roof during a massive drought - forget about what you "know" - BUY umbrella stocks!

The Best and the Worst of 2010

Now that you know the three best areas for investors in 2010, what was the worst area for investors in 2011?

The worst area for investors in 2011 was the solar sector, specifically the PV sector that we follow closely it was down and average of 14.6% in a very good year (up 13.87% on average) for the market.

Based upon this fact, it would be terrible to invest in this area for any sane investor? Correct?

Well in general, yes. If you bought each of our solar stocks you would have been down approximately 14.6% for the year. However, if you bought the "best" of the solar stocks - our solar seven, you would have been up an average of 42.94% more than 300% better than the general market averages.

2010 Stock Returns Comparison


Stock Symbol Current Price %Change 2010
JASO 6.71 17.72
JKS 20.8 98
LDK 10.19 45.36
SOL 8.55 79.62
SOLF 8.25 8.1258
SOLR 9.23 66.01
TSL 23.13 -14.29
Solar Seven 2010 +42.94%
All Solar PV Stocks 2010 -14.60%
S&P 500 1259.78 12.97
Dow Jones 11585.38 11.1
NASDAQ 2666.93 17.53
Major Indexes Average +13.87%

Solar Seven Selection Criteria

Back in the beginning of 2010 I explained that we were rating all of our solar stocks and that the seven strongest stocks – later named – “The Solar Seven” were the strongest stocks among the industry. My rating system is a proprietary combination of various relative strength measures, technical measures and some fundamental components.

What can we learn from this amazing performance in a terrible solar market?

What we can learn is that there are always stocks going up somewhere, even in a terrible market and if you select the “strongest” stocks in a given market segment you will, on average, do quite well. Even if, they are umbrella’s in a drought – regardless of what you “think” you know, always remember that “what is, is” and always buy the strongest stocks in a sector or market. You may not always know “why” something happens, but you will, on average, do much better than most investors and most likely better than the market.

Mr. Lynch has worked, for 33 years as a Wall Street security analyst, an independent security analyst an investment banker and private investor in small emerging technology companies. He has been actively involved in following developments in the renewable energy sector since 1977 and is regarded as an expert in this field. He was the contributing editor for 17 years to the Photovoltaic Insider Report, the leading publication in PV that was directed at industrial subscribers, such as major energy companies, utilities and governments around the world. He is currently a private investor and advisor to a number of companies. He can be reached via e-mail at: SOLARJPL@aol.com. Please visit his website for the promotion of solar energy - www.sunseries.net

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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Renewable Energy Stocks ; NRG (NYSE:NRG) to Acquire 290-Megawatt Agua Caliente Solar Project from First Solar (Nasdaq:FSLR )

Renewable Energy Stocks ; NRG (NYSE:NRG)to Acquire 290-Megawatt Agua Caliente Solar Project from First Solar (Nasdaq:FSLR )

Project will be the largest photovoltaic solar field in the world when completed; Enhances NRG’s growing Arizona business


PRINCETON, N.J. & TEMPE, Ariz.--(www.investorideas.com renewable energy/green newswire ) -- NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) and First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:FSLR ) announced that NRG, through its wholly owned subsidiary, NRG Solar, has agreed to acquire the 290-megawatt (MW) Agua Caliente solar project from First Solar. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2014 and has a 25-year power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company. When completed, Agua Caliente is expected to be the largest operational photovoltaic (PV) site in the world.



Located in Yuma County, AZ, the Agua Caliente project is expected to generate state and local tax revenues, provide wages for up to 400 construction jobs and create economic benefits for many local businesses.
“Solar power is critical to transitioning our nation to having a greater emphasis on large-scale clean energy technologies and it is going to be projects of the scale of Agua Caliente that will help us achieve this ambitious goal,” said David Crane, President and CEO of NRG Energy. “This investment significantly increases our presence in the state and benefits the residents of Arizona while providing attractive returns to NRG’s stakeholders.”

At full capacity, NRG estimates the 290 MW project will provide clean, zero-emission electricity for more than 225,000 homes. The project is expected to offset approximately 5.5 million metric tons of CO2 over 25 years, the equivalent of taking over 40,000 cars off the road annually. Agua Caliente will generate electricity with no air emissions, no waste production and no water consumption.

“Agua Caliente is representative of our mission to provide clean, affordable, sustainable solar energy, capitalizing on our advanced thin-film technology and the tremendous solar resource of Arizona,” said Rob Gillette, CEO of First Solar. “We are very pleased to further expand our relationship with NRG as the owner of Agua Caliente, the first of our multi-hundred-megawatt utility-scale projects to begin construction.”

An application has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy for a federal loan guarantee in connection with the financing of the project, which is expected to be one of the first in the U.S. to start construction under the program. Closing of the acquisition is contingent on receiving the federal loan guarantee. NRG plans to invest up to $800 million of equity in the project through 2014 through a potential combination of cash on hand in addition to third-party investor equity.

Situated on 2,400 acres of land between Yuma and Phoenix, AZ, the Agua Caliente project has secured all necessary permits for construction and the early construction phases have begun. First Solar has developed the project and is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor, using its advanced thin-film PV modules. First Solar will provide operations and maintenance services.
The Agua Caliente solar project is the latest in a series of clean energy advancements NRG has made in Arizona this year. In June, NRG purchased the district energy system in Phoenix, NRG Energy Center Phoenix, that produces and distributes chilled water to customers in the Phoenix central business district as well as operating and maintaining district energy/combined heat and power plants for Arizona State University and in Tucson. In September, NRG began an initiative with Kennedy Partners to develop solar arrays for Arizona schools to meet their own electricity needs while providing new teaching tools and shade for parking. NRG is also developing a 25 MW solar photovoltaic project for Tucson Electric Power to help meet the energy demands of the state with renewable energy.



“Arizona is a key area of growth for NRG where our investment is creating local jobs and building infrastructure,” said Tom Doyle, president of NRG Solar and a Phoenix resident. “It is very gratifying to be able to see the benefits of our partnerships with local schools, providing cooling and heating for local businesses and universities and developing solar fields like Agua Caliente and our project for Tucson Electric Power. This is a relationship that will benefit all Arizona residents for a very long time.”


About NRG Solar

NRG Solar is a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 Index company that owns and operates one of the country’s largest and most diverse power generation portfolios. Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, the Company’s power plants provide nearly 26,000 megawatts of generation capacity—enough to supply nearly 21 million homes. NRG’s retail businesses, Reliant Energy and Green Mountain Energy Company, combined serve more than 1.8 million residential, business, commercial and industrial customers. With investments in solar, wind and nuclear power, as well as electric vehicle infrastructure, NRG is working to help America transition to a clean energy economy. More information is available at www.nrgenergy.com.


Safe Harbor Disclosure
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions and include NRG’s expectations regarding the Agua Caliente Solar Project and forward-looking statements typically can be identified by the use of words such as “will,” “expect,” “believe,” and similar terms. Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the power industry, weather conditions, competition in wholesale power markets, the volatility of energy and fuel prices, failure of customers to perform under contracts, changes in the wholesale power markets, changes in government regulation of markets and of environmental emissions, unanticipated outages at our generation facilities, the failure to receive a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy or the inability to access other financing arrangements, the inability to implement value enhancing improvements to plant operations and companywide processes, our ability to create and maintain successful partnering relationships.

NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRG’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRG’s future results included in NRG’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov/.


About First Solar
First Solar manufactures solar modules with an advanced semiconductor technology and provides comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) system solutions. The company is delivering an economically viable alternative to fossil-fuel generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life collection and recycling, First Solar is focused on creating cost-effective, renewable energy solutions that protect and enhance the environment. For more information about First Solar, please visit http://www.firstsolar.com.

For First Solar Investors

This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Those statements involve a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks associated with the company's business involving the company's products, their development and distribution, economic and competitive factors and the company's key strategic relationships and other risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. First Solar assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.



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Solar Stocks; Westinghouse Solar (Nasdaq:WEST ) Fourth Quarter 2010 Update

Solar Stocks; Westinghouse Solar Fourth Quarter 2010 Update


CAMPBELL, Calif., Dec. 15, 2010 (www.investorideas.com renewable energy/green newswire ) -- Akeena Solar, Inc. d/b/a Westinghouse Solar, (Nasdaq:WEST ), a manufacturer and distributor of solar power systems, today provided a fourth quarter 2010 business update.

On September 10, 2010 Westinghouse Solar announced it would be expanding its distribution business to include sales of its Westinghouse Solar Power Systems directly to dealers in California, and exiting its solar panel installation business. The company provided guidance on October 28 that it anticipated sequential revenue growth for its distribution business of approximately 40-50% in the fourth quarter of 2010 as compared to the third quarter.



"We are encouraged by the pace of sales in the fourth quarter and we are confident that we will see sequential revenue growth in excess of 50%," said Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Westinghouse Solar. "Our agreement with Real Goods Solar to become an authorized Westinghouse Solar installer jump-started our California distribution business as they are installing Westinghouse Solar systems in the fourth quarter on projects we transferred to them, and are selling new systems that will be installed in 2011. We continue to add new dealers both within California and in the rest of the country, and our network of installers is now over 130 independent solar dealers extending into 34 states plus Canada.



"So far, we are seeing positive signs that the distribution business should prove to be as scalable as we anticipated when we made the decision to exit the installation business. We are also continuing discussions with new strategic distribution partners to increase our top line sales, and supplier partners to reduce our costs. We continue to anticipate that our cash operating expenses for continuing operations will be approximately $1.5 -- 1.6 million in the fourth quarter. In addition, our efforts to protect our solar panel installation technology are evidenced by the latest patent we received from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Organization," concluded Cinnamon.



About Akeena Solar, Inc. d/b/a Westinghouse Solar (Nasdaq:WEST - News)

Westinghouse Solar is a manufacturer and distributor of solar power systems. Award winning Westinghouse Solar Power Systems provide a leading combination of safety, performance and reliability, while backed by the proven quality of the Westinghouse name. For more information on Westinghouse Solar, visit www.westinghousesolar.com.



Safe Harbor
Statements made in this release that are not historical in nature, including those related to future revenue, revenue growth, operating expense rates and cost reductions, and product offerings in future periods, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "projects," "plans," "will," "may," "anticipates," believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified, and our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with the inherent uncertainty of future financial results, additional capital financing requirements, development of new products by us or our competitors, the effectiveness, profitability, and marketability of such products, our ability to protect proprietary rights and information, the impact of current, pending, or future legislation, regulation and incentive programs on the solar power industry, the impact of competitive products or pricing, technological changes, our ability to identify and successfully acquire and grow distribution customers, and the effect of general economic and business conditions. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date of this press release, and Akeena Solar assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.



WEST-G
Contact:
Westinghouse SolarBarry Cinnamon, Chief Executive Officer(408) 402-9400
bcinnamon@westinghousesolar.com

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