United Utilities: First to Go Green

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Water Rides Wave of Investor Interest – Sea Change Needed

Progressive Investor Special Report: Investing in Water Over the past few years, concerns about diminishing, contaminated water supplies and an aging infrastructure have made the water industry one of the hottest areas for investors, which have pushed company valuations up to historically high levels. The industry will continue to grow but not at a pace that can support these sky high valuations, that is until barriers are removed. The water industry will experience a sea change over the next decade as trends in the industry coalesce, according to a new report, “Investing in Water,” by Progressive Investor, a leading sustainable investment research firm. Over the years, the $400 billion water industry ($100 billion in the U.S) has provided reliable, steady returns to investors — largely because of dividends paid by utilities — but the industry as a whole is growing at 4-6% a year (except for certain sub-sectors), not at the heady 15-20% investors expect. There are two main reasons for the impending water crisis. First, the world is running out of fresh water because of uncontrolled growth in population, industry and agriculture — all demanding ever increasing amounts of pure water. Fresh water is contaminated with thousands of chemicals […]

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Whole Foods Launches Whole Trade

Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI), the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket, has launched the Whole Trade Guarantee, a Fair Trade buying program that uses strict criteria for products from developing countries to ensure: product quality, fair wages, and sound environmental practices. The Company’s goal is to have over 50% of its imported products from the developing world fall under the Whole Trade Guarantee program within ten years. Over the long-term, it hopes to hold all developing world products it sources to the Whole Trade standard. The Whole Trade Guarantee project officially launches in Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. and Canada with the opening of the Company’s 195th store in Manhattan at Bowery and Houston Streets on March 29, 2007. “With our shoppers’ growing concern about ethical and responsible trade and with our Company’s increasing scale and scope, the time is right for Whole Foods Market to help make more of an impact,” said Whole Foods Market’s co-founder and CEO John Mackey. “We have a long track record concerning ethical business practices, equitable pay for Team Members and suppliers, safe working environments, and love and respect for all people and the Earth. We are extending that concern […]

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American Superconductor Realigns Operations

American Superconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: AMSC), is restructuring to transition the company’s high temperature superconductor (HTS) products to the manufacturing stage and accelerate the company’s drive to profitability. The company will reduce its workforce, consolidate facilities and streamline operations to achieve cost savings of $4 million in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008. The company said it is on track to cut its cash burn in half in FYMarch’08 because of reduced spending to scale up manufacturing of HTS wire; the increasing positive cash flow from AMSC Power Systems; and the cost reduction actions. AMSC expects to have a strong cash position as it enters the next fiscal year, and that it is on plan to achieve positive EBITDAS in FYMarch’09. “Having achieved a series of recent successes on the HTS side of our business, including the completion of factory acceptance testing of our 36.5 MW HTS motor, we are taking action to transition fully to the manufacturing stage with HTS products while also reducing expenses and cash burn,” said Greg Yurek, founder and CEO. “From a cost perspective, we have streamlined our business units, consolidated facilities and realigned global headcount consistent with near term revenue and profit opportunities. These […]

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Akeena Solar Announces Q4, 2006 Results

Akeena Solar, Inc. (OTCBB:AKNS), a leading designer and installer of solar power systems, announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2006. Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Akeena, stated, “Executing on our strategy to be the leading residential and small commercial solar power designer and integrator in the U.S., we are increasing our pace of installations, expanding our reach to new locations, and strengthening the company. During November and December, our revenue exceeded our expectations due to favorable installations conditions in California. As a result, fourth quarter 2006 revenue of $4.5 million grew 25 percent over third quarter 2006 and 87 percent over fourth quarter 2005. 2006 revenue of $13.4 million increased 86 percent over our 2005 revenue.” Net sales for Q4 2006 were $4.5 million, an increase of 87% Gross profit was $855,000, or 19 percent of sales, compared to $459,000 (19% of sales) for Q4 05. Net loss $1.2 million, or $0.07 per share, compared to net income of $63,000 or $0.01 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2005. For 2006, net sales were $13.4 million and gross profit was $3.0 million, or 23% of sales. This compares to 2005 net sales of $7.2 million […]

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U.S. Senators Bingaman, Domenici Introduce Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act

U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici, who lead the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, have introduced the Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act of 2007 (S.987), which builds on the Energy Policy Act to create new renewable fuel standards and promote their usage and development. The legislation will require America ‘s fuel supply to contain higher amounts of renewable fuels, from 8.5 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons in 2022. From 2016 to 2022, the bill requires an increasing portion of the renewable fuels consumed to be advanced biofuels, such as celluosic ethanol, biobutanol and other fuels derived from unconventional biomass feedstocks. The bill supports the development of advanced biofuels by increasing Department of Energy funding for bioenergy research and development by 50 percent over fiscal years 2007 to 2009. This increased funding will allow for the establishment of seven bioenergy research centers throughout the country and will also establish grants for research in renewable technologies in states with low rates of ethanol production. “One of the biggest energy policy questions facing us is how to diversify energy supplies for transportation,” Bingaman said. “As our first committee hearing of the year demonstrated, the United States […]

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