A New Global Market for Natural Gas
Source: Seeking Alpha  (8/13/08)
...As one watches the price of natural gas collapse in the U.S., is it possible the price remains near $8.00 this winter as Asians and Europeans pay more than two times that price? Michael B. Smith More >

Water Inflows Halt Cigar Lake Uranium Project Yet Again
Source: Mineweb  (8/13/08)
The problems which have plagued Cameco's Cigar Lake uranium project since October 2006 are not quite finished as the company temporarily suspended remediation work again due water inflow concerns. More >

Is Uranium Set for a Rebound?
Source: proactiveinvestors.com  (8/8/08)
So where are we now in the current cycle and what is the long term outlook? Of course these are the sixty four million dollar questions, but there is a school of thought which argues there is now a misalignment between the outlook for nuclear energy, (which is becoming better by the day as oil prices soar and concerns about energy security and carbon emissions intensify), and the current low valuation of uranium companies. Arguably, the best uranium companies, those which will genuinely deliver in the future, are looking cheap.

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Getting More Constructive on Crude Oil
Source: Seeking Alpha  (8/8/08)
...If we are indeed facing Peak Oil in the immediate future then the secular trend for energy prices is up and will continue to rise until a combination of alternative energy and conservation measures kick in. This bull would have a long way to go...Cam Hui More >

A Supply Side Problem: Oil's High Price Is Here to Stay
Source: Seeking Alpha  (8/6/08)
The argument is that no matter the size of the US recession, no matter the short term infrastructure on conservation measures, no matter the lower discretionary demand for oil may be, the higher demand for the inelastic demand for oil, especially in the emerging economies, will lead to higher prices of oil. The high price of oil is here to stay. Frank J. Maura More >

Nukes Need Money
Source: Forbes.com  (8/6/08)
The nuclear energy industry is one group in a good position to take advantage of the changing of the guard. And one of its biggest guns--former New Jersey Gov. and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Todd Whitman--is drumming up publicity for what might be a nuclear renaissance in the U.S. within the next few years. More >

Investment in U.S. 'Cleantech' Climbs Near $1 Billion in Q2
Source: Industry Week  (8/6/08)
Second-quarter 2008 venture capital investments in U.S. clean technology companies rose by 41% over the previous quarter, reaching a record $961.7 million, according to an Ernst & Young report based on data from Dow Jones VentureSource. Year-on-year cleantech investments were up 83% over the same quarter in the previous year. More >

The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee Faces Another Challenge
Source: Dr. Larry Chorn, Platts Chief Economist  (8/5/08)
...Investment decisions are negatively impacted by high and unpredictable construction costs which lead to delays in oil and gas field developments, refinery, petrochemical and power plant construction projects. As energy supply lags demand, a vicious price cycle is created... More >

Congress & Alternative Energy: Investment Ideas
Source: Seeking Alpha  (8/5/08)
...The nascent alternative energy industry is greatly dependent on subsidies. Demand for solar and wind energy products is likely to fall if the tax credits are not renewed. Given that companies require around half a year lead time for financing major projects, plans for next year are starting to come on hold. If nothing happens by the end of September, projects will be dropped. Solar and wind shares will likely continue falling as a result...Devin Hobbes More >

BMO Predicts Tight Supplies Are Turning Met Coal into Black Gold
Source: Mineweb  (8/4/08)
Global Commodity Strategist Bart Melek and Associate Michael Zimerman expect metallurgical coal prices to average $305/t in 2008 and $300/t in 2009. "Upward pressures on prices are unlikely to abate until 2010, when infrastructure constraints are overcome." More >

The War for Oil
Source: Marin Katusa, Casey Energy Opportunity  (8/4/08)
. . .when the going gets tough and you feel backed into a corner, there is a way to come out on top. . . you need to continually reassess your approach and have the conviction to go in a new direction. More >

Uranium Prices Start to Rebound
Source: Mineweb  (7/30/08)
In her analysis, Scotiabank economist Patricia Mohr said that spot uranium prices appear to be rallying from a lower of only US$57 per pound in mid-June. "However, term contract prices (before escalation) fell from US$90 to US$80 in late June. Price retreated earlier this year alongside lower ‘uncovered utility requirements', though discretionary, off-market buying to take advantage of bargain prices has been substantial."

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The Volatility of Natural Gas
Source: Seeking Alpha  (7/29/08)
The current free fall in the NG market is more in sympathy with the falling oil. This drop may not go too far below the current $9 level, probably $8 - $8.5 range should provide a good support...The current drop of NG provides a good buying opportunity for investors with a long term horizon, if they believe that the long term trend on the oil market is intact and only under correction, and oil will stay at 3 digits and go back up to higher high in the future...Thomas Tan More >

Tightropes and Torpedoes
Source: Mineweb  (7/28/08)
Over the past two months, the world's top 40 listed stocks in mining and oil have surrendered USD 1.45 trillion in value, apparently breaking the belief that commodities had become bullet proof. Investors have been flocking not only out of commodities, but also further out of listed mining and oil producers, which had latterly being playing second fiddle to hard commodities, preferred as inflation and crisis hedges. More >

Chinese Investment in Energy and Materials to Soar
Source: asia.legalbusiness.online  (7/28/08)
In the latest figures from Thomson Reuters Deals Express, China’s Cross Border Outbound acquisitions rose to US$45.2bn so far this year from 129 deals, compared to just $7.6bn from 111 deals for the same period in 2007. More >

Rick Rule on Energy: Look for Best Management Team and Risk-Adjusted Value
Source: The Energy Report  (7/28/08)
In this interview with The Energy Report, legendary investor Rick Rule, founder of Global Resource Investments, explains how important his bottom-ups approach is to his investing strategy, and how he looks for the best risk-adjusted value and the best management teams. He says he usually find those in the alternative energy sector, especially in geothermal. More >

WA Liberal Leader Aims to Overturn Uranium Mining Ban
Source: Mineweb  (7/24/08)
Leader of the WA Liberal Opposition, Troy Buswell, gained a positive response from delegates at the Australian Uranium Conference in Fremantle today after he made it clear the ban imposed on uranium mining by Labor Premier Allan Carpenter would end should the Liberal coalition gain power. More >

USGS Seeks to Quantify Unfathomable Richness of Arctic Circle, Oil and Gas
Source: Mineweb.com  (7/24/08)
Yesterday the U.S. Geological Survey released the first publicly available petroleum resource estimate of the entire area north of the Arctic Circle, suggesting that 90 billion barrels of oil, 1,670 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 44 million barrels of technically recoverable natural gas liquids in 25 geologically defined areas are thought to have potential for petroleum. More >

China's Continuing Coal Crisis
Source: Mineweb  (7/23/08)
Through our discussions with industry experts we understand the causes of this coal shortage across the region appear to include booming demand well in excess of previous expectations; transport infrastructure bottlenecks; mine closures due to safety and environmental considerations, which have continued, having a particular impact on coking coal supply and deterioration in coal quality. More >

Sprott Energy Has a Diverse Mix of Plays
Source: globeandmail.com  (7/22/08)
...The Sprott Energy Fund, run by manager Eric Sprott, also had a 26-per-cent weighting in coal stocks. While this sector has had a terrific run this year as commodity prices have soared, Mr. Sprott recently told investors in a conference call that he still sees more upside in coal stocks amid a global energy shortage.

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Power in the Air
Source: Forbes.com  (7/22/08)
"To get to [20% wind energy in a decade] is totally doable," asserts Dan Kammen, a professor specializing in energy at the University of California, Berkeley. For instance, Germany now gets 14% of its electricity from wind power and is heading toward 20%, Kammen notes. More >

New Enthusiasm for Nuclear Power
Source: Debra Fiakes, Seeking Alpha  (7/22/08)
Ever since oil hit $100 a barrel, public antipathy toward nuclear power has turned to public enthusiasm. The utility industry was quick to catch the change in wind direction. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission there are twenty-three applications for new nuclear power plants now pending before the Commission. A total of thirty-four new units would be built if all these applications are approved. More >

Let's Have Some Love for Nuclear Power
Source: William Tucker, The Wall Street Journal  (7/21/08)
If nuclear energy is to progress, it must stand on its own. That means Wall Street has to invest. And convincing Wall Street to invest means persuading the public that there is nothing unacceptably dangerous or diabolical about nuclear power. More >

Oil's Wild Ride Hits Bump
Source: The Toronto Star  (7/18/08)
A price of almost $150 a barrel is unsustainable and the $200 target advanced by some folks will soon prove a mirage," wrote National Bank Financial economist Clément Gignac. "With demand from U.S. consumers downshifting and Asian countries cutting oil subsidies, we are sticking with our 12- to 18-month target of $75 to $80 a barrel." More >

An In-Depth Look at Solar Stocks
Source: Seeking Alpha  (7/17/08)
When the stocks of a robust long-term growth industry cool it's time to start paying attention. Solar stocks may not rebound tomorrow but as long as the earnings keep accelerating and the overall market doesn't collapse there may be some enormous OPPORTUNITY developing in this space... More >