Don't get me wrong...

Obviously of late, I've been preoccupied with the whole drama, but that doesn't mean that I denigrate the American competition.

I've always figured that where China can win with down and dirty silicon tech, America had the capacity to make the sleek high-tech forms like thin film. Right now I particularly like ASTI as an American manufacturer. They're supposed to start selling a product line in November, and that's a significant forward step.

As for on my own home, I'd love to have something nice from Sunpower.

About Me:

I guess you could call me an optimist.

I'm learning Lessons.

I've had a small amount of money in ESLR for about two years. Prior to that the only time I've invested was right at the end of the dotcom boom. My main activity started at the end of March with the addition of a significant chunk of money to my account.

With a degree in physics, it could be said that I've been studying energy pretty thoroughly since about 1996, but my drive towards alternative energy really kicked in soon after 9/11.

Since March I've ranged from about -10% to +60%. Right now I'm at about +10% after taxes.

Watching this LDK drama is incredibly fascinating.

For one thing, I'm learning that to sell a good company because the price is down is the height of foolishness. You can only do that so many times before you will have nothing.

For another thing, I've learned that you can't trust the reporters. They all have their own motives, and know very well their effect on the markets. You gotta do your own work, and get as close to your own truth as possible.

Note that after close today the WSJ put out quite a friendly article on LDK ( Partial Eclipse: LDK Solar
Highlights China Stocks' Risk

This morning I was way down, not just in LDK, but in AKNS and ASTI. I felt great and confident, however. By the end of the day, I was pretty burnt out, but still feeling good, because I'd not gotten afraid and sold out. Yes, I sold FSLR at a gain, and I sold some ASTI at a profit. I was concerned about my available margin. I figure that as long as I'm not forced to sell, then I've got no problems.

We're still just getting started in putting together an industry, but it's a critical industry, and the long term is white hot. My ultimate goal must be to stay in until it's ready to pay me off for my patience.

Imperium Renewables News

HECO picks biodiesel supplier for new plant

Quote from CNBC

"Solar business is skyrocketting, Demand is infinite"

- TJ (didn't catch his name / title). He was with a chipmaker.

EDIT: It was TJ Rogers from Cypress Semiconductor.

Ah shucks. Nuclear plants are expensive.

Peter Lyons, a Nuclear Regulatory COmmittee Commissioner is talking about needing help from Congress regarding the details of a plan to consolidate and develop nuclear power plants. It seems that a combination of the requirement for a 2+ mile surrounding area, and a high per foot cost of land, creates complications to the implementation of the plan.

Makes sense to me, and is one more argument against nuclear power.

Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is making the most sense of the bunch. Democrats are supportive of nuclear power, because there's money in it. In the end, though, the money spent on nuclear power plants is misspent, and without taxpayer support would be nonexistant. Not only that, but nobody is talking abou the waste (except Sanders). It's simply ignored.