Before Investing in Alternative Energy Stocks, Know the Facts. . .
For decades, Big Oil & Big Auto have created a smokescreen of misinformation about the validity of alternative energy markets.
And who could blame them?
The best way to beat potential competition is to smother the market with confusion.
But today, with peak oil a reality and global warming dictating energy policy, the truth about alternative energy is breaking through the clouds.
And savvy investors are using this opportunity to load up now — while the opportunities are still abundant.
But many of the myths created by alternative energy opponents can still be found all over the Internet. Most of these can be traced back to unreliable and unethical sources.
And in order to make a wise investment in today's fast-moving alternative energy stock sector, you have to be able to separate the myths from the facts.
Think about it. . .
How much do you think alternative energy investors would've made in solar over the past few years, had they believed some of the lies they've been told about solar? Deceptions such as "solar will never be competitive," and "the technology can only provide a miniscule amount of electricity. . . "
Fortunately for these investors, the myths have already been separated from the facts.
And That's the Premise of Our Alternative Energy Stocks report. . .
Because the opportunities for investors in alternative energy stocks are just heating up. And there's absolutely no reason you should miss out on them because of faulty information and questionable data.
Solar Energy
Myth: Solar energy can only serve a tiny fraction of U.S. or world electricity needs.
Fact: Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology can meet electricity demand on any scale. The solar energy resource in a 100-mile-square area of Nevada could supply the U.S. with its entire electricity demand using modestly efficient commercial PV modules. Bear in mind, the market capitalisation for pure-play solar companies has jumped from $1 billion in 2004 to over $118.3 billion today.
Myth: Solar energy cannot significantly offset global warming.
Fact: If the industry continues to grow by 25% per year (the current prediction), PV in the United States will offset 10 million metric tons of CO2 per year by 2027. That's equivalent to the annual increase emitted by U.S. electricity generation from fossil fuels.
Myth: A solar device requires more energy to manufacture than it will produce in its lifetime.
Fact: A PV system will produce much more energy than it consumes over its lifetime. In the worst case, the energy payback for PV is less than four years. A PV module's lifetime is typically more than 20 years.
Myth: Solar is too expensive to catch on.
Fact: Every solar panel purchased makes the next one cheaper. As opposed to non-renewable sources, which become scarcer and more expensive with every ton that is burned. When all is said and done, each cumulative production doubling drops the price by about 20%.
Geothermal Energy
Myth: Geothermal energy is still new and experimental.
Fact: Geothermal energy is been used to generate electricity since 1904. Today, the United States has nearly 2,800 MW of geothermal electricity connected to the grid that generates a yearly average of 15 billion kilowatt hours of power. That's comparable to burning about 25 million barrels of oil or six million short tons of coal per year. (These are simply ESTIMATES!)
Myth: Geothermal power plants emit smoke.
Fact: The visible plumes seen rising from geothermal power plants are actually water vapor emissions, not smoke. No combustion of fuels occurs to produce electricity at a geothermal facility.
Myth: Extraction and injection of geothermal brines contaminates drinking water.
Fact: No contamination of groundwater has ever occurred as a result of geothermal activity.
Wind Energy
Myth: Wind turbines are loud and create noise pollution.
Fact: An operating modern wind farm at a distance of 750 to 1,000 feet is no noisier than a kitchen refrigerator.
Myth: Wind turbines harm property values.
Fact: There is no evidence that the presence of a commercial wind farm within sight of a property decreases that property's value. Better yet, a nationwide study conducted in 2003 surveyed property near multiple wind farms and found that not only do wind farms not harm property values, but in some cases they actually increase them.
Myth: Wind turbines kill birds and bats.
Fact: Regardless of how extensively wind is developed in the future, bird deaths from wind energy are unlikely ever to be more than a small fraction of bird deaths caused by other sources, such as cats and buildings.
Myth: Wind farms fragment wildlife habitats.
Fact: Wind farms are typically built in areas close to transmission lines, where habitat has already been modified and fragmented.
Myth: Wind turbines operate only a small fraction of the time.
Fact: Wind turbines generate electricity between 65% and 80% of the time, though the amount of output is variable. The fact is, no power plant generates at 100% nameplate capacity 100% of the time. The only thing that comes close is geothermal, which is about 98%.
Myth: Wind energy only provides a small amount of electricity.
Fact: The U.S. Department of Energy estimates America's wind energy potential to be larger than total U.S. electricity consumption today. Financial News Online estimates the wind sector, which has been developing for more than 10 years in Europe and for about five years in the U.S., could bring in annual revenues of $10 billion to $12 billion.
Hybrid Power
Myth: Hybrid batteries will lose their charge and leave you with a $3,000 repair bill.
Fact: Hybrid batteries last for the life of the vehicle. In fact, Toyota, the maker of the Prius, has said that it has never had a charge-related warranty claim.
Myth: Hybrids are slow.
Fact: Most hybrids are actually faster than comparable cars without hybrid electric motors. In fact, the Honda Accord hybrid is the fastest family sedan on the market.
Myth: You'll never recoup the high price premium.
Fact: With the tax credits, the payback is between two to three years. Without a tax credit, you're looking at five to six years. Of course, this is also based on $2.20 a gallon.
Also keep in mind that as production increases, economies of scale are expected to reduce the costs. Toyota actually plans to offer hybrid versions of all its most popular models, which will cut the incremental cost of hybrids in half.
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