soooo... anyone know what solar companies would be a good investment?

[Sylvia]

does anyone think that solar power would be a good stock market investment?? (assuming this is possible..) i don't know, that's why im asking. (im also assuming there aren't any stupid questions so ill try not to worry about that too much) ;p

[Sylvia]

Originally Posted by goldtoe360

I think it's because solar cells are still expensive to make and not efficient enough to make an investment.

ok, then when will the shift happen when solar is cheaper than oil? i know one of you people know...

...or maybe THEY don't want us to know

shh.. they're listening... *no! i dont want my tracking device implant! no!*

[GranCanaria]

Hi Sylvia,

I know the U.S. are stopping government rebates on solar panels but I personally think people are "greenwashed" enough to be prepared to make the investment, even if it means waiting years and years for the break-even point.

I was "researching" this a while ago and found two companies on NASDAQ: WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. and SunPower. You might want to check how they've done so far.

Hope this helps!

A.

[Amadeus]

Well investing in companies is a tricky thing. I'll tell you the same thing I told a lady at work a few years ago who wanted to invest in a stock of a company that researched wind for energy. If I told you today I was creating a company that would eventually sell the equipment to harness solar energy, but currently I am selling cars, would you invest in my company? Of course you would want to know several things before investing in my company like who are my backers, what is my experience, how much assets and liabilities do I have, what is my current cash flow, etc.

Basically what I am saying is, don't assume just because a company is trading on the stock market and they are in something of perceived value that it is a good investments. There are hundreds of variables that you need to take in consideration. Probably none of the companies that are into "solar power" right now are good investments. There may be some firms that are not into solar power right that eventually will who'll be able to take it off when the time is right. It could be GE or it could be Microsoft.

[Jennihul]

Go to Co-op America: Economic Action for a Just Planet and review the section on responsible investing. They can help you figure out if your choices will be a 'feel good' step in your life or if you can actually make money doing it.

The one thing about solar companies right now is that they cannot keep up with demand.

That may seem like a good potential investment for the mere fact that there is demand. But that's not how the market works. If Wall Street gets skittish because there is a whiff of potential failure in their inability to keep up with demand, the stock tanks.

Jennifer

[jimbos123456]

I think it might be a good investment based on several factors. I was born with my third eye open so I can see spirits floating around all day so I always try to take things that are not obvious into account when making an investment decision. Number 1 being The old ways continue with oil going to $200 a barrel forcing research into conventional alternatives so the status quo doesn't look to obvious. But the thing to remember with solar energy is it is not the most effective energy source, it is just a conventional very cliche'd "alternative" source that is allowed to exist, but not seriously compete. In my opinion there are many different suppressed free energy technologies out there like zero point energy, cold fusion, vapor gas engines (runs cars on gasoline with zero pollution but gets 300 mpg), thermal depolarization (converts trash from garbage dumps into oil), and getting cars to run on tap water, etc.

So I decided to just put most of my money into precious metals bullion. I figured politicians can always be counted on to inflate the currency, and deficit spend. Number 2 being If someone actually does release a free energy device someday I'll have my money ready to buy in their company =). So the way to profit if the status quo continues is to use a standard investing strategy of pms, oil stocks, foreign currency, alternative energy, dumping the commodities as the commodities bubble ends into unpopular standard equities and real estate leaving some cash on the side. Number 3 being some very brave person manages to actually release a free energy device to the people despite all the harrassment, that is when you use your money left on the sidelines for that type of situation.

Always try to take into account unusual unexpected things from wiping out your investments. For example people think that pharmaceutical companies are a great investment with the rising cost of healthcare. They are great on paper, but not really except only for diagnostics and trauma care. Most drugs in my opinion are absolutely worthless and highly toxic to the body. The drugs reduce symptoms, but make the underlying condition worse. The business model of a pharmaceutical company is fundamentally worthless it is to basically bribe the FDA/politicians to limit competition from natural medicine, then release analogs of natural substances 500000% over what you paid for it. If the public knew that keeping the colon/liver/lymphatic system clean, refusing vaccinations, consuming superfood supplements, juice fasting, and eating an organic rawfood diet prevents and cures 99% of all diseases those pharmaceutical companies would probably go out of business. Do you think the public would really be scared of germs if they understood the concept of pleomorphism, ozone therapy, and rife therapy?

[Sylvia]

Originally Posted by jimbos123456

I was born with my third eye open so I can see spirits floating around all day so I always try to take things that are not obvious into account when making an investment decision.

thats kinda freaky. but not as freaky as my 3rd arm.

[Sylvia]

Originally Posted by Amadeus

Well investing in companies is a tricky thing. I'll tell you the same thing I told a lady at work a few years ago who wanted to invest in a stock of a company that researched wind for energy. If I told you today I was creating a company that would eventually sell the equipment to harness solar energy, but currently I am selling cars, would you invest in my company? Of course you would want to know several things before investing in my company like who are my backers, what is my experience, how much assets and liabilities do I have, what is my current cash flow, etc.

Basically what I am saying is, don't assume just because a company is trading on the stock market and they are in something of perceived value that it is a good investments. There are hundreds of variables that you need to take in consideration. Probably none of the companies that are into "solar power" right now are good investments. There may be some firms that are not into solar power right that eventually will who'll be able to take it off when the time is right. It could be GE or it could be Microsoft.

i think you're totally right but i like small cap investments

in fact, i might just go with an energy based mutual fund because im a lazy ass.

[Sylvia]

Originally Posted by Jennihul

Go to Co-op America: Economic Action for a Just Planet and review the section on responsible investing. They can help you figure out if your choices will be a 'feel good' step in your life or if you can actually make money doing it.

The one thing about solar companies right now is that they cannot keep up with demand.

That may seem like a good potential investment for the mere fact that there is demand. But that's not how the market works. If Wall Street gets skittish because there is a whiff of potential failure in their inability to keep up with demand, the stock tanks.

Jennifer

im voting for solar.

i think hydrogen would be nice, but its so expensive and iv only heard of them using it for space travel etc...

i think nuclear is also great but what the heck are we gonna do with all the waste?

i think thermal depolarization is a good idea but i read about it way back in 01 and still haven't heard much about it since.

i think wind is cool except for killing birds...

what else.. anyway, solar is pretty much the only completely clean, abundant source of energy we have as long as we can speed up the technology. (which im sure is happening already) my ex bf's dad owns a solar company and was doing lots of work on... gas stations. i think they are already making the cross over.

oh, and the govt did stop the rebates in CA at least (which is super lame).

[Brutha]

In the US it really depends on the election whether solar will get additional funding. If Obama gets elected I would guess that it will receive funding I don't know whether Hillary will support funding and I don't think that McCain will increase funding in the sector.

One problem with solar cells is that they need (at least the ones we have at the moment) small amounts of Gallium or Indium, which are both rare metals.

It could very well be possible for some Nanotech or Biotech comanpy to find a better way to harvest solar power than to build solar cells which would make existing solar cell technology worthless.

i think hydrogen would be nice, but its so expensive and iv only heard of them using it for space travel etc...

Hydrogen is no energy source. It is a way to store energy.

[TebogoDioka]

Originally Posted by Sylvia

does anyone think that solar power would be a good stock market investment?? (assuming this is possible..) i don't know, that's why im asking. (im also assuming there aren't any stupid questions so ill try not to worry about that too much) ;p

Living in South Africa where we have suddenly had blackouts. Solar supplies is now in demand as we have the sun all year round. So it might be a great investment, many SOuthern African countries ecoomies has grown beyond the current energy supply .