As prices of oil and gas keep rising, businesses and governments alike are looking for cheaper, more efficient forms of energy. This can be interesting to investors who want to take part in the alternative energies market. One form of alternative energy that is receiving more attention from the financial industry lately is coal. The use of coal as a form of energy is nothing new, but in today’s world, investing in coal can be a good idea because it is considered to be a cleaner form of energy than other alternatives. This is due to the passing of the Waxman-Markley Energy Bill, which rewards businesses and governments for using clean sources of energy, such as coal.

The financial incentive that is derived from this bill will keep the demand for coal high, because more and more countries are going to be looking for new forms of sustainable energy. Another reason why investing in coal is considered to be a sound opportunity is that historically, much like gold, it is seen as a stable commodity. Investors are usually encouraged to include some stable commodities in their portfolio as well as more risky propositions, for a balanced financial outlook that will make them money at a slow and steady rate.

The demand for coal is growing all over the world, including large countries such as China and India. By investing in coal, you are investing your money in an international product which will be able to withstand the changing markets of your home country. It’s better in unstable economic times to look at international stable properties, such as coal and gold. A coal ETF can be used as a way to hedge foreign risk. It is also a good way to gain some beginning exposure to the alternative energy market, before investing in new and risky businesses.

The disadvantages to investing in coal are the same as in any other investment, in that there isn’t any investment that comes completely without risk. Yet if you pay attention to the market and are able to conduct research to see where coal is thriving and what predictions are being made, you can ride the highs and lows of the market with a fairly stable portfolio. It can be helpful to watch some major coal ETFs with the help of investment professionals before you buy into any of them, so that you can gain a greater understanding of market conditions.

On March 13, 2012 By Richard Wilson

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Investing in Wind Power – The Problem with Alternative Energy

Investing in wind power brings up many of the questions that put the problems with alternative energies on display. Wind power can be a very powerful and efficient source of alternative energy, but it has a few short comings that are making investing in wind power challenging. As science works to resolve these issues with wind power, the rest of the world waits to see when wind power may be something that can be packaged for general consumption. It is important to remember that our society needs to invest in alternative energies to replace the fossil fuels that we burn now. Renewable energy lasts for a lifetime, but the fossil fuels have a very limited supply that many scientists maintain is starting to run out.

The primary problem with investing in wind power is that it is not portable. Unlike petroleum, batteries or solar power, wind power is difficult to put on a vehicle to be used as a primary power source. It is not practical to put a windmill on a vehicle and hope for a breeze so the vehicle can be started. Investing in wind power means investing in windmill farms that can generate energy for thousands of homes in any given area. The ability to make a renewable energy source portable is an essential part of alternative energy research. Without portability, society will not be able to break free of petroleum and fossil fuels. But portability still remains a challenge for wind power that science is working on.

Another issue that comes with investing in wind power is sustainable energy storage. Even in the windiest places on Earth, the wind does not blow constantly. At some point, the wind stops blowing and the energy source is removed. A large bulk of the investing in wind power that is going on is being used on research to help find ways of storing the energy created by wind power and being able to use that in an efficient and sustainable way. It could be weeks before enough of a breeze kicks up to generate significant power. While consumers wait for that next breeze, there needs to be a way to supply energy to customers in a sustainable way.

Investing in wind power has its challenges, but it is still an essential part the future of alternative energies. When you get involved in investing in wind power, you are helping to free society of dependency on fossil fuels and doing your part to move energy research into the next important phase.

On March 13, 2012 By Richard Wilson

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Investing in Hydro Power – Hydro Power is Another Important Alternative Energy

Lost in the hoopla surrounding wind and solar energy is the need for investing in hydro power. The largest hydro power installations in the world offer some of the most reliable power to the largest cities. Since the 1950’s, the Niagara Power Vista in Niagara Falls, NY has been supplying power to millions of people in the United States and Canada. But investing in hydro power is not as high on the priority list because hydro power is not often seen as a renewable and reliable energy source. Streams and rivers have been drying up and water is a little harder to come by in certain parts of the world. But there is still the need to investigate the potential of hydro power and help to meet the power demands of the future.

The trick to investing in hydro power is finding an organization that is investigating the potential for new energy sites as opposed to maintaining and upgrading new sites. As was mentioned, water is not as plentiful in some parts of the world and that has caused a drop in investing in hydro power. The other problem is that there is not always a source of strong running water near metropolitan areas that could really use more electrical supply sources. Niagara Falls is one of those rare cases where a strong running current of water is very close to a metropolitan area. If there was a raging waterfall near Los Angeles, then California could start to solve its electrical supply problems.

But there is more to investing in hydro power than just trying to find new areas where hydro power can be cultivated. In some cases, it requires the changing of an entire region’s environment to harness hydro power. Investing in hydro power sometimes means damming up a river, and that can cause a large reservoir of water that can wipe out an entire community. These are not easy decisions to make and they are decisions that affect the lives of a lot of people. But it is one of the things that make hydro power unique and challenging at the same time.

In order to benefit from investing in hydro power, we need to spend more time understanding its potential. Storing energy generated by hydro power plants can be a valuable back-up plan in case of a blackout. These are just some of the ways that investing in hydro power can be profitable and rewarding.

On March 13, 2012 By Richard Wilson

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Investing in Solar Energy – Investing in Alternative Energy

Some people consider investing in solar energy to be some kind of poke in the dark at an alternative energy source that is decades away from being fully utilized. Investing in solar energy now is the equivalent of getting in on a growing industry from the ground floor. When you consider all of the research that is going into solar energy and utilizing it for products ranging from vehicles to rechargeable batteries, then you will start to realize the plans that are in store for solar energy. There are several ways in which governments within the United States and around the world are using solar power and those applications continue to grow.

If you are considering investing in solar energy and are unsure about its future, all you need to do is drive around your region for a while and take note of how many different ways that solar energy is being used. You will see homes, office buildings and even factories with solar panels on them as an indication of the multitudes that are already investing in solar energy for their futures. In some states, you will notice that the freeway signs are powered by solar energy. Some of these larger structures are not using solar energy as their only source of power. But as research into solar energy increases, it will become easier for larger facilities to utilize solar energy for most of their power needs.

The United States federal government has long-term plans for investing in solar energy, and that usually means that jobs will be created to research the potential of this energy source. By joining in with the organizations that are already investing in solar energy, you are giving the world a chance to utilize one of the most significant renewable energy sources available. Government, big business and service industries are all looking into the potential of solar energy as a main source of power. As the breakthroughs occur, those that got involved at this stage will benefit financially.

Investing in solar energy is investing in one of the most prominent sources of renewable energy on the planet. Just like the wind, there will always be sunshine. Scientists and corporate research experts are working to find ways to reduce the reliability that the world has on fossil fuels. It is a charge that also includes developing ways to clean up the environment and create a safer world. That makes investing in solar energy the right choice for a long list of very good reasons.

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Investing in Coal – Tips for Investing in Alternative Energy

Investing in Wind Power – The Problem with Alternative Energy

Investing in Hydro Power – Hydro Power is Another Important Alternative Energy

Investing in Solar Energy – Investing in Alternative Energy

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