How Green Energy and Healthcare Reform Will Drive Gold to Dizzying Heights

Warren Buffett calls it “a drug.”

Ireland’s finance minister calls it “a weapon.”

It’s one of the ultimate temptations for politicians.

And, quite frankly, we’re about to see a lot more of it.

Best of all though, the market is rewarding investors who have taken steps to protect themselves and profit from it.

I’m talking about currency devaluation. But this time around though, we’re not looking at your average currency devaluation though. We’re looking at a much slipperier slope that is more dangerous, more costly (if you’re not prepared), and that will only get worse in the months and years ahead – competitive…

Surprise! Coal & Nuclear Power are Keys to Obama’s Energy Plan

President-elect Barack Obama has made no bones about wantinto jump-start the renewable energy markets – pledging $150 billion for the development of biofuels, solar and wind power, other alternative energy sources during his first term.

But what might the new administration mean for more traditional – and more reliable –energy sources?

Oil is always the first energy source to spring to mind. But it’s hardly a solo act – coal and nuclear make up the other two-thirds of the top fuel trio. Coal delivers 50% of U.S. electricity needs, and nuclear power brings another 20% to the table.

The cold truth is that…

Alternative Energy: Fast Becoming an “Alternative” No Longer

Fifty years ago, the world used about four billion barrels of oil a year, and the average new oilfield discovery was around 30 billion barrels.

Today, those numbers are roughly reversed. The last really big (30 billion barrel) find was Mexico’s Cantarell field, way back in 1976.

What’s worse, if we look at the top 65 oil-producing countries in the world, 54 of them are producing less oil than they were at their peak of production. I could go on with more statistics, but the point is this: Oil is a finite resource, and it’s in decline.

And while increased world oil demand…

GE Strengthens Its Commitment to Alternative Energy with a $230 Million Solar Power Investment

General Electric Corp. (GE) is strengthening its commitment to clean energy with a $230 million (150 million euros) investment in Spain’s Fotowatio. The investment, made through GE’s Energy Financial Services unit, will amount to a 32% stake in the solar-energy firm.

“By facilitating the growth of one of the solar industry’s leading developers, this investment gives us immediate access to attractive solar markets in Europe and the United States and will form an important part of GE’s broader strategy to become a major player in solar power,” Alex Urquhart, President and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services, said in a statement. “GE…

“WE NEED TO TALK”

There is a looming problem for the renewable energy business. It affects the geothermal producers. As the expression goes, “We need to talk.”

I have argued over and over that in an energy-short future, geothermal power will play a key role in meeting power needs. Geothermal systems are well-known technology, at least to people who follow the technology. And some geothermal fields have been making power for many decades. So there’s a real track record for geothermal, unlike for many other alleged technological “solutions” to the energy problems of our time.

Geothermal offers some unique benefits. It is “clean,” emitting essentially no…