I see a news release that Pacific Gas & Electric has agreed to buy 150Mw of wind power. So I go, OK, where is the investment opportunity here. Thus starts the journey:
We start with PG&E, stock PGC, which is a large traditional utility company that receives only a small portion of its revenues from alternative energy and outsources its supplies of said alternative energy, so we will take a pass as an investment.
The source of the wind power is a company called enXco out of North Palm Springs, CA. enXco is a company that develops wind power resources through the U.S. Since 2002 the company has been owned by EDF Energies Nouvelles which is 50% owned by the EDF (Electricite de France) Group, the French national power company. So where can an investor jump in here?
EDF Group trades on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange, but is 87% owned by the French government. We finally get to EDF Energies Nouvelles, hereafter called EDF Energies. As noted above the company is 50% owned by EDF Group, the remainder is in public hands as stock. EDF Energies is where the alternative investor can get excited:
EDF Energies’ mission is to produce green electricity and develop alternate energy in North America and Europe. The company currently has 964Mw of developed wind power, and is working on projects in solar power, biomass and combined hydro/wind projects. They have a goal of 3,000Mw of owned power by the end of 2011.
EDF Energies’ stock trades in Europe and in the U.S. on the OTC Pink Sheets, symbol is EDFEF.PK. Tracking down the players in today’s alternative energy market can be a challenge, but can lead to some exciting companies!
This article is not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.
