Renewable Energy Plagued by a Host of New Problems
Source: Kent Moors, Oil & Energy Investor  (8/1/12)
"The primary ally of alternative sourcing—the acceleration in the price of hydrocarbons—has been absent. So if you're wondering why I spend so much time these days talking about oil and gas, the answer is simple. It's the price." More >

Global Conditions Are Conspiring for a Swift Upswing in Uranium Prices
Source: Elliott Gue, ETF Daily News  (8/1/12)
"China's insatiable appetite for electricity will continue to drive the nuclear renaissance. Twenty-six nuclear power reactors are under construction on the Mainland, with an additional 51 facilities at some stage of advanced planning." More >

The US Energy Supply Mix Debate Continues
Source: Jason Fordney, Platts  (8/1/12)
"Low natural gas prices thanks to hydraulic fracturing and a drop in demand for electricity are having big effects on the use of coal for power generation." More >

Mitsubishi Opens Lithium-Ion Batteries Separator Plant for Electric Vehicles in Japan
Source: Reve  (8/1/12)
"To meet rising demand for lithium-ion batteries in electric cars, laptops and other devices, Mitsubishi Plastics Inc. is opening a second facility in Japan making polyolefin-based films for lithium-ion batteries." More >

China's Energy Frontier Expands to Disputed Waters
Source: Reuters, Randy Fabi and Chen Aizhu  (8/1/12)
"First came the diplomatic offensive, then the flexing of military muscle. Now, China is moving ahead with its first major tender of oil and gas blocks in disputed parts of its waters." More >

There's a Pink Gold Rush for Potash: Fadi Benjamin
Source: Peter Byrne of The Energy Report  (7/31/12)
After a tough five years, the price of agricultural potash is rebounding. Demand for fertilizer is on the rise in China, Brazil and the United States, and mining firms are rushing to find new sources of the pink potassium salts. In this exclusive interview with The Energy Report, Fadi Benjamin, mining analyst with Northern Securities Co., shares his top picks in the junior space and talks about the pros and cons facing entrants in an industry dominated by a handful of seniors. More >

Oil Prices: Three Factors to Watch this Week
Source: Diane Alter, Money Morning  (7/30/12)
"There are a few catalysts that could propel energy higher this week, thanks to the quest to save the Eurozone, the FOMC meeting and Iran's moves to choke the Strait of Hormuz." More >

As the US Corn Crop Withers, Ethanol Markets Soar and then Slip
Source: John Kingston, Platts  (7/30/12)
"These are the times that ethanol opponents warned against. This past week has been the one where ethanol burst into the news, and where markets gyrated sharply." More >

India's Blackout Underscores Need for Energy Investment
Source: Bloomberg Businessweek, Bruce Einhorn and Kartikay Mehrotra  (7/30/12)
"In India, it's a fact of life: The power goes out. A lot. With the country's power plants and electricity grid unable to keep up with demand in the world's second-largest country, blackouts are everyday occurrences." More >

For Uranium, an Exit From the Doghouse?
Source: InvestorPlace, Aaron Levitt  (7/30/12)
"Things may be looking up for the sector. Rising nuclear plant construction across emerging markets is improving the supply-demand situation. Perhaps more importantly, Japan’s sleeping reactors are starting to wake." More >

MLPs Are Muddling Through the Earnings Season
Source: Hinds Howard, MLP HINDSight  (7/30/12)
"Stick with the news, because more earnings reports are coming this week. Good luck out there." More >

The Federal Reserve, Gold, Oil, & the Dollar's Demise
Source: Chris Vermeulen, The Gold and Oil Guy  (7/29/12)
"Over the longer term, a weak dollar is positive for precious metals and other hard assets." More >

Harry Dent's Formula for Surviving the Great Bust Ahead
Source: Karen Roche of The Gold Report  (7/27/12)
With a perfect storm brewing on the horizon, investors should be building their cash cache and running for cover, warns Harry Dent, author of The Great Crash Ahead. In this exclusive interview with The Gold Report, Dent explains how central bank stimulus programs are fighting a futile battle because a huge army of aging baby boomers has reached the stage in their economic lifecycles when they curb spending. How is Dent preparing for the gathering storm? Read on. . . More >

MLPs Are an Energy Safe Haven
Source: Todd Bunton, Zacks Investment Research  (7/27/12)
"For investors wanting to add some defense to their portfolio while also generating solid income, MLPs can be a great addition." More >

Play US Energy Independence with Income-Generating MLPs: Stephen Maresca
Source: George S. Mack of The Energy Report   (7/26/12)
Fossil fuels have to be transported and stored. This is the classic midstream industry that resides between the producers and the marketers and that generally makes money regardless of the price of oil, natural gas or natural gas liquids (NGLs). Now, with the boom in production coming from unconventional oil and gas shales and the enhanced technologies that produce fuels in areas where it was once impossible, the demand for midstream oil and gas infrastructure is growing. In this exclusive interview with The Energy Report, Morgan Stanley Managing Director and Master Limited Partnership (MLP) Analyst Stephen Marsesca makes his case for a handful of MLP and common stocks that will generate increasing cash flow and dividend payouts. More >

Energy Agencies: Uranium Supply 'Sufficient for Over 100 Years'
Source: Claire-Louise Isted, Platts  (7/26/12)
"The increased resource base has been achieved thanks to a 22% increase in uranium exploration and mine development expenditures between 2008 and 2010, which in 2010 totaled more than $2 billion." More >

Nuclear Expansion on Track Despite Fukushima
Source: Reuters, Eric Onstad  (7/26/12)
"Strong expansion of nuclear power as a carbon-free energy source in Asia is expected to press ahead despite the Fukushima accident in Japan that soured sentiment in some countries, a benchmark report said on Thursday." More >

The Economics of Lithium-Ion Battery Pricing
Source: GreenTech Pastures, Heather Clancy  (7/26/12)
"New research from McKinsey & Co. suggests that lithium-ion batteries need to cost about $250 per kilowatt-hour in order for automakers to design and manufacture electric vehicles that are priced competitively." More >

The Hidden Cost of Peak Oil
Source: Don Miller, Money Morning  (7/25/12)
"Nobody's talking about the high cost of getting the new oil out of the ground. But very soon, high extraction costs will kick crude oil prices into high gear." More >

A New Trend Stirring In Natural Gas. . .
Source: Matt Insley, Natural Resource Hunter  (7/25/12)
"Natural gas prices are up over 50% in the past few months; it shows a new trend emerging in natural gas usage." More >

Fertilizer Giant Seeks Canadian Potash Mines
Source: Bloomberg, Pratik Parija and Prabhudatta Mishra  (7/25/12)
"The price of the commodity has increased at least 13% from a year earlier as countries including China, the world's largest consumer, paid more for imports after a drought in the U.S. pushed up the cost of grains." More >

Small-Cap Energy Stocks Have Hit Bottom: Steve Palmer
Source: Peter Byrne of The Energy Report  (7/24/12)
Don't panic, because things can't get much worse. Instead, hold your cards and scout out buying opportunities. This is the strategy Steve Palmer employs at AlphaNorth Asset Management, a small-cap powerhouse with a track record of solid returns. In this exclusive interview with The Energy Report, Palmer gives a quick-and-dirty assessment of resource markets and explains why he now favors energy stocks over precious metals in the current environment. More >

China Seeks North American Energy Reserves, Know-How
Source: Associated Press, Elaine Kurtenbach   (7/24/12)
"China's appetite for overseas energy assets remains as strong as ever despite its current economic slowdown. Weaker oil prices and a resolve to capture technologies China needs to unlock its own sizable but hard to extract reserves are powerful incentives for its energy companies to snap up foreign producers." More >

Why Vale's Massive Potash Project Isn't Bad News for Juniors
Source: Kip Keen, Mineweb  (7/23/12)
"Vale's huge Rio Colorado project might seem like a buzzkill for Brazil-based juniors, but according to Mackie Research Analyst Jaret Anderson, there is plenty of room for additional potash projects in the country." More >

The Trajectory Shows Oil Prices Will Rise
Source: Kent Moors, Oil & Energy Investor  (7/21/12)
"We are now witnessing a return to a 'normal' oil market. But that doesn't mean a lack of volatility or a narrow range of trading." More >