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.

Various and Sundry Notes...

Posts have been infrequent of late. There was a trip to Spokane, WA, and somewhat of a lack of optimism. Even so, I've done work, spreading the word where I can. This housing bust has been somewhat frightening, but hopefully awareness of the issues, as well as proper corrective action taken by the main players involved, will allow the market to take its beatings where they are due without letting panic do additional unnecessary damage.

I'm holding a very small amount of First Solar, and a very large amount of Composite Technology. Yesterday I bought some LDK, and today I sold some but not all of it.

Having initially invested in March of this year, I've been up 50%, but by Thursday I was back down to where I started. I was seriously thinking about selling everything, and waiting until the Mortage Lenders finished collapsing, but it looks like things are stable right now, and CPTC has gone up about 14% from it's bottom. The volume is low, but it's hopeful nonetheless. A bit of good news would be helpful.

I'm working on another Solar-Related Website for a potential contract job. I'm also thinking that I might be able to double up the use of that Site / Database to gather business from other Alt Energy Companies. We'll see, I've got a few technical challenges to get through first.

BTW: Here's a heck of a Bloomberg article on how Subprime is present in Money Market Funds, which are supposed to be among the safest of Investments.

Subprime Infects $300 Billion of Money Market Funds, Hikes Risk

I want something like this.

My house is 100 years old. They weren't thinking about mounting Solar Panels on the roof when they decided on the direction of the face. We do, however, have a good chunk of land.


On the bigger picture, I think that there could be a heck of a market for pole mounted systems because they are so easy to install (relatively), and thus much cheaper than a major roof job. Also, I know that there are many houses that do not have ideal roofs for a solar installation, and for some, the pole mounted option would be the right solution.

They are also nicely scaleable, as you could add more as long as you have the land and the inverter capacity.

I'd want to not skimp on panels, though. The most efficient per unit area would be the way to go.



EDIT: I think another advantage of these where possible would be due to the fact that rooftop systems collect heat, which lower the panel efficiency, whereas these wouldn't have that problem. For the rooftop systems it looks like cogeneration is in order, where the panels generate electricity and a solar thermal system removes heat in order to heat the home, or water, etc.

For the record... My Bio.

Though I am writing about solar stocks pretty frequently, I'm not a terribly experienced picker of stocks. I do have some experience over the years, and I've done more than my share of studying of issues of economics, politics, and energy.

I have a BS in Physics, so energy has been one of my biggest area of study, though I don't work in the field; I'm in IT at a Health Insurance company.

They say "invest in what you know," and so that's what I'm doing, and that's what I'm writing about, and continually learning more about.

The last thing I want to do is send someone in the wrong direction.

On the other hand, I feel like right now the opportunity is so great in getting involved in investing in these companies, which, barring some economic meltdown, are going to be tomorrow's behemoth energy corporations.

I can only ask the reader to not ever take my word for it. Of course, they shouldn't take Cramer's word for it, either.

Why am I Here:

The Problems:


1. Global Warming. It is real, and the solution must start now with the efforts of all available economic participants. Climate Change spanning even just the next few human lifespans stands to create intra- and international pressures which place at risk the modern World Economy. Large scale integration of environmental refugees cannot be resolved without the most powerful, and prepared of Economies.


2. It is simple physical fact that there is No Economy without Energy. The vast American and World Economies of today are totally dependent on a steady supply of energy to produce and transport a staggering quantity of goods. Without a substantial domestic energy supply, the economic capacity of The United States, and thus the world, is at risk.


3. As there is no economy without Energy, also, there is also no National Security without a Robust Domestic Energy Capacity. Wars cannot be fought without a Strong Domestic Economy to provide for the troops. In addition, America's addiction to Foreign Oil risks forcing us to become militarily involved in conflicts that are otherwise best avoided. No military can long remain strong when forced by Basic Economic Necessity to intervene in, or to manufacture external conflicts for purposes of assuring a long-term supply of Energy.


4. America's Oil Demand directly contradicts its best interest by providing a ready source of funding to any nation which is able to bring Oil to the Market. This dependence forces America into a position of diplomatic weakness on the world scene. This relationship also serves to assure a steady flow of America Dollars to nations such as Iran, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia. These nations do not have America's Best Interest in mind, yet leadership of these nations have undue influence on American Foreign Policy due to their possession of needed energy resources.


The Solutions:


Fossil Fuels are incredibly diverse in their capacity to provide energy resources to suit any need. They will not be replaced by one or two technologies or products. The transition away from these Energy Sources will require a broad array of solutions, depending on the particular niche in question.


Solar Energy fills one of those niches, and has many unique advantages, of which a few follow:


1. Solar energy allows for decentralized energy production. Not only is this advantageous in terms of national security, but it provides for a tremendous potential world market, where rural, off-grid energy sources are a viable alternative to Fossil Energy Importation, or to expensive long-distance hook-ups to centralized power sources.


2. Solar Technologies have proven effective and reliable over many years. Photovoltaic Panels have very long lifespans, and the energy payoff over the panel's lifespan is significant.


3. Solar Panels scale well to residential applications. Given a condusive market, homeowners and developers will have a new opportunity to add value to their investments in real-estate, while at the same time supporting the reduction of the nation's Carbon Footprint. America's recently booming Housing Market would be well served by a new way to add value to existing investments.


It is my firm belief that America, and the strength of the American Economy, stands to benefit greatly by understanding and acknowledging the problems at hand, and as has been done in other cases, by stepping up to find the solutions through dedication to Innovation and Hard Work.


The question is not whether we can do it, but whether we will choose to do it.


It should also be noted that several influencial players in the rest of the world are not waiting for the United States to make a move. If America does not Innovate, then others will, and those others will gain the benefit of that Effort.


So, what is AmericanSolarEconomy about?


Simple. I am working to provide a repository for information related to America's growing Solar and Alt-Energy Economy. A large part of this is in the news of the day, where we see evidence on a daily basis of Individuals, Corporations, and Governments that are standing up and taking action. I am also working to support the case and the industry through selected links to a broad range of informational resources throughout the web.