Mr. Stine: I also cover alternative vehicles and fuels, natural gas and propane for transportation. Also under the clean technologies label, I cover distributed generation companies dealing with energy efficiency and also backup power. My coverage also includes two water companies and an energy-efficient glass company.
TWST: Eric, what are some of the specific stimulus projects you believe will
benefit alternative energy companies in the near future?
Mr. Stine: All of the companies under my coverage definitely are impacted by the
stimulus, certainly the size of the stimulus and the timing of the stimulus.
Funding is very noteworthy, specifically for alternative fuels and vehicles.
Funding for the DOE Clean Cities program probably is the most significant. It's
300 million, which is allocated to the Clean Cities program with the goal to
advance the number of alternative vehicles on the road. And that includes all
technologies, electric, hybrid, biodiesel, ethanol, but also propane and natural
gas. On Aug. 26 the DOE did make those grants, 300 million for cost-sharing
programs that funded 25 projects. A very significant amount of those projects
involved propane and natural gas. In the past, the Clean Cities program is one
that has received funding, but nowhere near this 300 million level. To me it's
a pretty clear political signal that natural gas and propane are looked at as
part of the answer going forward.
Tickers included in this excerpt: ATT, CLNE, FSYS, JBHT, WPRT
For more information call (212) 952 7433. The Wall Street Transcript does not endorse any of the comments made by interviewees, and does not make stock recommendations.