Digg Townhall now online!
Check out the latest Digg Townhall, where Kevin and Jay answered the top questions from the Digg Community!
The Next Bull Market: It's Green
thenation.com — "There's always a bull market somewhere," goes the old Wall Street saw. While financial markets collapse, a whole new multi-billion dollar green economy is on the rise. Washington is spending billions to bail-out Wall St but just a fraction of that would create millions of jobs, bring huge returns to investors, and, oh yeah, save the planet.
CaptainPlanet- 701 diggs
- digg it
- Rotzooi, on 09/26/2008, -1/+30Many European countries have been acting on this for about two decades now. 'Green' production of food and energy is profitable, but currently especially recycling is big green business. Reducing waste is a fantastic win-win-win-win situation. Consumers get to spend less money, existing companies keep making money or even make more if they play their cards right, the new(ish) businesses in recycling get to make a buck - and we pollute our living environment less by not incinerating and landfilling as much. Woohoo!
- brightlight4, on 09/27/2008, -2/+4The BEST OBSERVATION I have read on Digg yet!!! Good for you Rotzooi!
- tehxen3, on 09/27/2008, -10/+1And somehow they still have 20-40% lower living standard. Their economies have barely shown any signs of economic growth, and individuals give half of what they earn to government.
You're an idiot, woohoo!- Lazydriver, on 09/27/2008, -2/+7If they weren't happy, they would be immigrating to America in droves.
Oh wait. It's the other way around now. - stonewall123, on 09/27/2008, -1/+12Oh really? 20-40%. I wouldn't lump all of Europe together becasue there is a lot of variability between different nations. In fact according to the UN the USA only ranks #12 in terms of standard of living which is behind many other European countries. http://www.2ontario.com/welcome/coca_801.asp
- wfarren, on 09/28/2008, -1/+2Living standards are measured in percentage points?
Arrogant, ignorant comment... You should be thanking the Euros for paving the way. You'll soon be buying their technology when yer earl gets too spensive.
- Lazydriver, on 09/27/2008, -2/+7If they weren't happy, they would be immigrating to America in droves.
- dfsjdkflasjk, on 09/27/2008, -6/+3The planet doesn't need saving. What needs "saving" is the future of our existence. Please no not shadow your selfishness for the selfless act of "saving the planet."
- groo68, on 09/27/2008, -0/+2The future of our existence doesn't need saving, and neither does the planet, it would just be better if we could live in a clean earth. sure far away from cities and industry is a clean earth, but it would be nice if the air in large cities was crystal clear, and we could walk a few blocks without getting asthma or having grime collect on our skins.
- Wargasmic, on 09/27/2008, -5/+3Recycling isn't anti-pollution. Most of the chemicals used to break down the materials are more hazardous than if you had just thrown the ***** in a landfill. It's just a feel-good attitude that you get from it, ***** hippie.
- oxdeltaxo, on 09/27/2008, -0/+3Not necessarily, there is green recycling too. It just costs less to do it the dirty way.
- jstohler, on 09/27/2008, -2/+19Another bubble? Oh boy!
- Metasquares, on 09/27/2008, -0/+4The key to making a lot of money in a bubble is to get out before it bursts. In that sense, a new bubble represents another opportunity for personal profit.
On the other hand, people as a group will never learn. - Infidelcastr0, on 09/27/2008, -1/+2True enough, look at the P/E on some of those solar stocks. Yikes!
- honeybrass, on 09/27/2008, -1/+2Alan Greenspan would be proud
- sanman, on 09/28/2008, -0/+2Green isn't just the color of money, it's also a path to independence and autonomy
- Metasquares, on 09/27/2008, -0/+4The key to making a lot of money in a bubble is to get out before it bursts. In that sense, a new bubble represents another opportunity for personal profit.
- thecatcantalk, on 09/27/2008, -0/+18No *****, Sherlock. That's why Royal Dutch Shell has been pouring money into R&D for next-generation clean energy for years now.
Immoral, dishonest businessmen lose all their customers and go bankrupt; that's not a problem, it's the solution to a problem.
"Let the market decide" was their battle cry, hold them to it.
Let them die.
Don't make more undead socialist zombies like Chrysler.- brad3378, on 09/27/2008, -3/+3Speaking of socialist zombies liking Chrysler.....
http://newsbusters.org/node/12703
- brad3378, on 09/27/2008, -3/+3Speaking of socialist zombies liking Chrysler.....
- truthfightsback, on 09/27/2008, -1/+12"Truly green companies aren't just providing returns to investors. They're also an employment engine that is offsetting the job losses related to the high price of oil and the housing collapse. Tens of thousands of people are today employed making wind turbines, installing solar panels and making American cars more efficient. But those jobs could be only a very small beginning compared to what is possible."
- Batfishy, on 09/27/2008, -0/+2I am in the biofuel power industry. We're tiny but adding new jobs constantly. We also don't compete with the edible food market, so we have that going for us.
- vinnyvenus, on 09/27/2008, -1/+2Yes but Biofuel is heavily dependent on subsidies. If you take away subsidies then the industry will collapse.
- sodade, on 09/27/2008, -1/+4You don't think gas is subsidized? If our government passed along the real cost of us burning gas to us at the pump like EU countries do then gasoline would be no where near as competitive with alternatives.
- Batfishy, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1Well, we're pretty excited about the developments and the constant interest in our company. We get calls daily from potential investors and reporters, and our phones used to be quiet. Yes, we needed the subsidies for start-up purposes but our future is very bright. I am proud and lucky to be in this industry and it was the only reason I accepted the job offer.
- randumbusername, on 09/27/2008, -0/+3true. i was at a place in tuscon, az that makes oil additives in addtion to biodiesel and e85. the guy there gave me the scoop, without subsidies biodiesel, e-85 would be higher and is essentially a waste of money. he's not complaining though.
- PEMDAS, on 09/27/2008, -3/+6They should call our current state the Fish Market, because it stinks to high heaven.
- geoffg, on 09/27/2008, -1/+3The bubble has been underway for years now, look at FSLR.
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10439097/1/green-en ... - tehxen3, on 09/27/2008, -1/+2If it was that profitable and if it worked they would have no problem getting all that money from private investors.
- sodade, on 09/27/2008, -1/+5The investors are afraid of a neocon government that subsidizes gas and cuts subsidies for alternative fuels. When Obama is elected, green will go to green and the money will flow.
- MorganMghee, on 09/27/2008, -1/+3not to mention the millions and millions of dollars the fossil fuel corps spend funding skeptic groups and media campaigns to convince us 'the technology isn't there' and other nonsense.
- yellowcakewalk, on 09/27/2008, -2/+2Except for the spineless democrats just caved in on lifting the ban on offshore drilling.
- sodade, on 09/27/2008, -1/+5The investors are afraid of a neocon government that subsidizes gas and cuts subsidies for alternative fuels. When Obama is elected, green will go to green and the money will flow.
- Alex2, on 09/27/2008, -10/+1Typo.. next ***** market.
- zerton, on 09/27/2008, -1/+5Did anyone see Bill Clinton discuss this on the daily show? It should have started years ago.
- Ragingcnu, on 09/27/2008, -1/+3FTA:"A recent report report by the Center for American Progress estimates that investing just $100 billion in the green economy (one-seventh the amount contemplated in the administration's proposed Wall Street bailout) would create 2 million new jobs, with a significant percentage of those coming in the struggling manufacturing and construction sectors."
Pfft...... No thanks, give me a little less than a year in Iraq or 1/7th of the funds I need to bail out Wall St. instead. Yeah. Those seem like much better alternatives. - nedzeve, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1Green bowls.... yeah, that's what I'm talking about!
- transformmore, on 09/27/2008, -4/+0People will be burning rubber tires in the street to stay warm by the end of 2009. The environment always takes a back seat to immediate survival.
- aapl2dcore, on 09/27/2008, -1/+2It will be another great way to funnel taxpayer money into the pockets of a very select few. T Boone Pickens isn't in it because he cares. Do you think the Republicans really care about the environment after spending decades fighting this stuff? It's just another pander and bilk scheme. Just look at the corn biofuels that failed miserably. Bush pushed that through. Burning the food supply has caused starvation world wide, a widening dead zone in the gulf of Mexico, and actually increased emissions of CO2. More importantly though, it increased the price of corn and brought in some cash for those red state constituents. Are you guys *really* this gullible?
- regeya, on 09/27/2008, -0/+2I don't know. If ALL T. Boone Pickens cared about was money, I figure we wouldn't see TV commercials for him, and instead he'd be living someplace like Dubai by now.
But yes, the Pickens Plan is part of a scheme, and people with eyes to see and ears to hear know what it is. - solid12345, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1T. Boone Pickens is no more in it for himself than Obama is. If anything I trust Pickens more, he is near the end of his life and has no use for more money.
- regeya, on 09/27/2008, -0/+2I don't know. If ALL T. Boone Pickens cared about was money, I figure we wouldn't see TV commercials for him, and instead he'd be living someplace like Dubai by now.
- rsbryswrrl, on 09/27/2008, -1/+3We need people in office who will push for tax breaks and incentives for green companies as a replacement or supplement to the current ridiculously high tax breaks for mega-corporations. I work as a business consultant within state government to help entrepreneurs with business startups and I get calls every single day from people with terrific, environmentally-friendly business concepts. Unfortunately, until the tax incentives are there, this sector will not rise to the prominence it needs and deserves...
- SuckItUp, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1CLNE for the win. I'm not a greenie, nor do I believe the myth of man made global warming, but CNG now for autos is the gateway to hydrogen cars.
- Infidelcastr0, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1CLNE FSYS LDK FSLR etc, pretty volatile but when they're up, damn.
CNG and solar should be big over the next few years, until they crash that is.
Shale oil may also be big.
Just don't bet everything on one horse, this too shall pass.
- Infidelcastr0, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1CLNE FSYS LDK FSLR etc, pretty volatile but when they're up, damn.
- kosmoss, on 09/27/2008, -1/+1Do you know what's gonna be green next week? I'll tell you: banks. In the bailout done (99% probability as of today) FRE, FNM, AIG, ABK, MBI gonna explode. As to green energy, it will, but in a much longer time frame.
- justiceape, on 09/27/2008, -0/+3The next bubble is Alternative Energy, according to a pretty convincing article in Harper's.
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/02/0081908- randumbusername, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1that what i don't understand about this article (thenation.com) article. the green/alt energy market is infused with plenty of cash. some trading over 40x pe. yes it's the next bubble.....but damn if won't try to exploit it to make some easy cash in this loose monetary environment.
- MorganMghee, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1that will be the next faltering step as AE learns to run. the regulation and oversight in the market has allowed startup after startup with what, even to my uneducated eye, was just a name on a door and some words on a paper. People are so eager, and are investing in nothing. It will reach a peak here pretty soon, with the tightening of the belt on wallstreet, and there will be a slew of worthless stocks and an over abundance of skepticism for the green market. Let's hope someone realizes and does something to curb it.
- Infidelcastr0, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1Very interesting article, thanks for that link.
I had been thinking that this would be the case, that article pretty much confirms it.
Bubbles can be a good way to make money if your not an idiot, just get out at the height of enthusiasm, and don't put anywhere close to all your eggs in one basket.
- randumbusername, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1that what i don't understand about this article (thenation.com) article. the green/alt energy market is infused with plenty of cash. some trading over 40x pe. yes it's the next bubble.....but damn if won't try to exploit it to make some easy cash in this loose monetary environment.
- jarofclay, on 09/27/2008, -6/+7written by a guy from greenpeace. that couldn't be bias or slanted at all.
buried. - BuryBrigade08, on 09/27/2008, -1/+2Markets have collapsed? Did I miss a market crash somewhere?
- 1053r, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1There was a huge difference between the tech bubble and the housing bubble. In tech, (pets.com aside), actual new ways of improving productivity were created. In the housing bubble, housing was providing mostly the same amount of utility (housing the same people in the same places in the same level of luxury) while the prices tripled.
The "green" bubble will be far more like the tech bubble than the housing bubble. Right now the wind and solar industries are growing at greater than 40% a year. It will take a couple decades for them to make up the majority of our energy production at that rate of growth, but in the mean time they will send the price of electricity through the floor. And that will supercharge the rest of the economy, because the price of energy is in EVERYTHING.
I've no doubt the ability of credulous investors to go bananas over "green" stocks that will ultimately lead to a collapse. But in the mean time, a lot of REALLY useful work is going to get done that wont go away after the crash. The best thing humanity could do for the long term right now is hand the solar and wind industries many trillions of dollars. So I say bring on the green bubble. - craighoxton, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1"One word: Plastics"
- lektroluv, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1..I want some of that purple stuff.
- nzweasel, on 09/28/2008, -0/+0Convenient, isn't it? Imagine how bad China looks burning fossil fuels and expanding at the present geometric rate in the eyes of the Green market. What's to say they don't have the right to burn the fossil fuels that America did during the great industrial revolution?
The Green market is America's new silent war on China. What effect will this have on China's own investments into the American Green market? - solid12345, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1The problem with liberal and environmentalism theory is they believe everyone in the world thinks like they do except middle-America. Let me tell you, you'll have a far harder road convincing the Arabs, Russians or Chinese to go green than you ever will trying to get even the most right-wing American living in Kansas. You wonder why the neocons fight you so much, maybe it is because there is some truth to what we say that plans like Kyoto exist just to damage the American economy and do not hold up any standards for the Eastern world.
I want a cleaner planet too, but let the free market take the reigns, only way to get other nations to follow is when we prove it can be financially successful. - tjmasco, on 09/28/2008, -1/+1The green sector is already inflated way past its earnings
- mama146, on 09/28/2008, -1/+0Wow. Just when I thought things could not get any more crazy. Yes, please go invest in the fraudulent wind industry without researching the other side of this....you will get just what you deserve. It is a parasitic subsidy-driven smoke and mirror show developed by Enron. Captitalism at it's worse.
Learn how shockingly inefficient it is. Learn how it is the only renewable that needs fossil fuels to function. Learn how environmentally damaging it can be. Learn how the CO2 emissions savings are bogus. Sure it looks great from first glance and on the shallow surface but the devil is in the details.
www.wind-watch.org
If you are stupid enough to invest in this....you should get what's coming to you. - EndGamePlayer, on 09/29/2008, -0/+0So many new technologies out there - too many choices to invest these days when everyone else is on a down slide there is always an up sliding market. And what's nice about this green market - most seem to be emerging under the radar.
Whether people see green as shopping online, not mowing their lawn, lowering their energy bill or powering up themselves, bikes, hybridizing SUVs, cars or growing food in their back yard - the money is still flowing and they are right to do so as energy costs increase - they won't be so affected. My list of "must watch" is getting longer and longer daily as I watch trending toward simpler sensible ways of living green. - tufftugg, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1 One day humanity will start using it's knowledge, until that day the Corporate B.S. line will continue to feed the Lemmings. In Cars it takes 97% of the power to move the vehicle and only needs to move the 3% of it's cargo, it's made for. When manufacturers start using composite material to make vehicles, then they will not require so much horsepower to move the vehicle.
- hydroplane, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1I'd rather dump $700 bil into a progressive future than give it to crooks for failed ideas.
- Chodro, on 10/20/2008, -0/+0I can't believe our country is considered a world leader when issues such as this one are still completely denied by our "leaders." Unfortunately, moving into a progressive future takes progressive and proactive leaders. Instead, we are chasing terrorists in countries they are not, sending our jobs overseas, completely ignoring the fact that global warming is man made, and indulging in bickering about whether we should once again commit the offshore drilling crime. I am sure we look like blithering idiots to the rest of the world right now. We could be a world leader if we had begun taking action to "save the environment" twenty some years ago when this awareness came about.
The article states, 'Of course, spending money on a green stimulus instead of a bailout would have consequences for the big firms at the root of the financial mess. Some of the failed Wall Street behemoths that are relying on teachers, soldiers, policemen and small-business owners to bail them out would probably sink.' I say, big ***** deal!! We are now "bailing out" these losers, but the right answer would have been to let them fall flat on their faces. That is the same courtesy and respect they have allowed us.
Check out the new & improved 
© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is