TheOpeningBell   What's Hot For 2008        January 10, 2008
 

What's Hot for 2008

Will Solar continue its run ? Bio fuels ? Gold ?

Eco friendly companies may be the new hot sector for 2008

 Even though we saw huge gains in clean-energy stocks in 2007, I expect 2008 will also be a good year for most emerging energy technology stocks. Record oil prices continue to lift the sector and fuel enthusiasm for a more eco friendly world in the coming years - 2007 was the year to own renewable energy stocks. The WilderHill clean energy index rose over 58 percent for the year. That compared to an 8 percent gain in 2006 and a dismal 5 percent rise in 2005. We saw our FCEL stock increase 100% in 2007

Solar was the big winner however in 2007. Most solar stocks in the index rose over 100 percent. First Solar, a maker of thin-film solar panels jumped from $28 to $283 in the last year leading the sector. Others worth watching in the new year will be... AKNS,ASTI,CSUN,ESLR and SOLF...Lets also keep an eye on Wind energy, this is a little tougher as there are not many companies involved with this resource. GE is the leader but who wants to go there. So lets have a look at Zoltek Companies Inc., (ZOLT) and AMERICAS WIND ENERGY (AWNE).

I believe we will see some eco friendly companies emerge in the new year also and position themselves to take advantage of new laws with California . I will be doing IR his year for one of these companies that will be making a bio friendly grocery bag much like plastic. This one sounds rather exciting considering the opportunities available. I will keep my readers informed on the companies progress.
 
The dollar strengthened against several major world currencies recently yet gold is still a great place to be diverse in. The dollar and gold usually trade inversely, as each is treated as a hedge against the other. Gold is currently at $880 per ounce.

John Gernannt
 

Americas Wind Energy Inc.

 AWE is focused on the manufacturing and marketing of medium sized (900 kW) wind turbines for the North American market. AWE’s strategy is to manufacture as much as possible in North America, with the intention of providing both cost effectiveness and local content. All of AWE’s projects to date have made use of local power converters.
 
AWE is and intends to remain a virtual manufacturer. This means AWE plans to subcontract the components of its wind turbines to qualified manufacturers and manufacturing partners to achieve the best in quality at the lowest cost. As a key part of the strategy of a virtual manufacturer, AWE plans to maintain strict quality assurance programs and quality control procedures for its subcontractors and partners.
 

Zoltek Companies, Inc.
 
 Through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers and technical fibers in the United States. Its carbon fibers are used in a range of commercial products, as well as in reinforcement material in composites, carbon fiber composite products, and filament winding equipment used in the composite industry.