Tag Archives: Clean Energy Fuels

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

1 State Taking Charge of Its Natural Gas Future

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By Matt DiLallo, The Motley Fool

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Our national energy policy is akin to a tug of war between national security concerns, environmental issues, and determining what’s needed to keep our domestic economy humming. Energy itself usually plays a subordinate role in the discussion; the more pressing issues take precedence and we work our energy policy around them.

That’s created a number of stopgap measures, some of which are driven by the market and some are driven by government intervention. Where the government hasn’t intervened, at least on a national level, is in maximizing how we use our massive natural gas resources. One state is tired of waiting for direction from above and has decided to take matters in its own hands.

Currently, there are eight natural gas vehicle bills making their way through the Pennsylvania legislature. These bills range in content from tax credits to proposals to move funds from one program to another, all designed to spur the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel. Considering that Pennsylvania is sitting on one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world, it makes sense for the state to do something to increase its own use of that resource.

Natural gas has the power to change the face of the fuel industry. In the state we’ve seen drillers like EQT build its own natural gas fuel station, only to find it necessary to expand within 18 months. That’s without any help from the government, which gives a bit of an indication as to how powerful the economics of switching has become.

In the state, what’s coming out of committees isn’t addressing the refueling infrastructure; instead, it’s addressing the vehicle side of the equation. Nationally, companies like Clean Energy Fuels are addressing the infrastructure side of things. However, that infrastructure needs to be used in order for the investments to grow the infrastructure to continue flowing, which is why tax credits will be important.

The importance of tax credits does stretch beyond the funding of vehicles to switch to natural gas, of course. There is an important economic trickle-down effect for the state, which had been seeing reduced employment as drilling has slowed down due to the price of natural gas falling. By spurring increased demand for natural gas, the state is also hoping to turn around falling rig counts.

Drillers are incentivized to increase drilling activity if the profits justify doing so. Top Marcellus leaseholder Chesapeake Energy has slashed its overall drilling budget by 39% this year. It’s turning its focus on the most liquids-rich plays, which is why 35% of the drilling budget is going to the Eagle Ford. It’s still drilling in the Marcellus, but it’s reduced both its rig count and its capex.

The company has also shifted some of its attention to next-door neighbor Ohio’s Utica Shale. It’s not the only Marcellus driller to look to the higher profit potential in the liquids-rich Utica. Smaller drillers like Rex

From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/18/1-state-taking-charge-of-its-natural-gas-future/

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Is the United States on the Verge of Energy Independence?

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By Doug Ehrman, The Motley Fool

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While in many ways alternative energy remains in its infancy, continuing developments have put the U.S. in a better position relative to energy independence than seemed even thinkable a decade ago. The advent of hydraulic fracturing — known as fracking — has opened up a significant oil and gas supply that continues to lower the need to import resources from abroad. Similarly, advances in solar energy are making it an increasing viable solution, and positive guidance from the solar sector supports this belief. Finally, the U.S. is sitting on huge deposits of kerogen that could contain as much as 6 trillion barrels of oil if it could be extracted.

A case for liquefied natural gas
While thus far liquefied natural gas, or LNG, has remained impractical and unavailable in smaller, non-commercial vehicles, there has been an increasing push toward adopting this fuel for larger applications. Within the past month, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway announced that it’s rolling out a pilot program to test the viability of using LNG to power locomotives at its BNSF Railway. The rail company is the second largest consumer of diesel in the country, using more fuel than any entity other than the U.S. Navy. If rail could effectively switch to LNG, the reduction in oil consumption would be dramatic.

This type of reduction would serve to continue a trend that has already begun. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, oil imports have fallen from a peak of 60% of consumption being supplied by foreign oil to 32%; furthermore, since total consumption has fallen, this means that the lower percentage is of an already smaller number. Similarly, according to a B of A Merrill Lynch estimate, where the U.S. spent $216 billion on natural gas in 2008, that number had fallen to $76 billion in 2012. A large factor for the decrease has been the explosion in supply from fracking operations.

Also aiding this effort is a push being made by Clean Energy Fuels to build enough LNG filling stations across the country to allow freight to traverse the U.S. in LNG-powered trucks. As the bulk of our goods still travels by truck, if these vehicles could be transitioned to LNG and away from diesel, consumption of foreign oil would fall even further. As the LNG trend continues, the position of the U.S. should continue to improve.

Solar flares
The second week of April saw solar companies explode to the upside, driven largely by bullish comments from First Solar about the company’s outlook for the rest of the year through 2015. The company also announced its acquisition of TetraSun under undisclosed financial terms. TetraSun brings expertise with silicon photovoltaic technology that’s been used by other leaders in the field. The acquisition should open up new avenues for First Solar and give the company the ability to improve overall efficiency.

On that front, Sun Power announced earlier this week that it was

From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/13/is-the-united-states-on-the-verge-of-energy-indepe/

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

The Clean-Energy Source of the Future

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By Taylor Muckerman and Joel South, The Motley Fool

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It’s been a long time coming for both natural gas and solar as viable sources of energy in the United States. Both have been struggling with a lack of consumer and industrial buy-in, but both could be right around the corner. Is either one standing out at the moment?

The debate is on
In the following video, Motley Fool analysts Joel South and Taylor Muckerman each weigh in on how natural gas and solar have been performing lately and which companies are taking the lead. Both options have made progress recently, with Clean Energy Fuels building out its “America’s Natural Gas Highway” initiative and SunPower producing more efficient solar panels.

Has Clean Energy Fuels solved the “chicken-or-the-egg” debate?
The movement toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It’s poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Learn everything you need to know about Clean Energy Fuels in The Motley Fool‘s premium research report on the company. Just click here now to claim your copy today.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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Why Global Oil Demand Could Soon Peak

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By Arjun Sreekumar, The Motley Fool

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Citigroup stoked a major debate when it argued earlier this year that America would become energy independent by 2020. Now the bank is out with another bold new call. In a research paper titled “Global Oil Demand Growth — The End Is Nigh,” Citigroup argues that global oil demand is “approaching a tipping point.”

The bank suggests there are two factors underpinning this expected trend. Let’s take a closer look at both of them, as well as the shocking conclusion Citi draws about the future of oil prices.

Shift toward natural gas
The first factor is a transition away from oil and toward natural gas as a fuel source. The shale gas revolution has already provided American consumers and companies with cheap and abundant supplies of the clean-burning fuel. It has even ushered in a so-called “renaissance” for domestic manufacturers, including chemical manufacturer Dow Chemical and steelmaker Nucor, which have moved or are planning to move plants that were previously relocated abroad back to the United States.

In addition, several U.S. truck manufacturers are capitalizing on cheap natural gas by equipping new vehicles to run on nat gas instead of diesel. For instance, Navistar reckons that over the next two years, a third of all its new trucks will be powered by natural gas instead of diesel.

Natural gas engine manufacturers such as Cummins and Westport Innovations will play a major role in driving this shift. In February, the two companies said their joint venture, Cummins Westport, is providing engines for two of the biggest natural gas transit fleet orders ever filled in North America.  

Both see massive potential in the North American long-haul trucking market, especially as companies such as Clean Energy Fuels develop the natural gas refueling infrastructure necessary to support the transition toward gas-powered vehicles. Having already built dozens of new LNG truck fueling stations, Clean Energy plans on completing an additional 70 to 80 LNG fueling stations adjacent to long-haul trucking routes and key warehouse distribution centers across North America.

If the price of natural gas remains cheap compared with diesel, projects such as these should continue to flourish.

Improving fuel economy
The second major factor that points to a peak in global oil demand, according to Citigroup, is improving fuel efficiency among new vehicles. According to Citi’s estimates, fuel efficiency among new cars and trucks is improving at an annual rate of 3%-4% and 1%-2%, respectively. Combining the two, the bank suggests new vehicles’ fuel economy is improving by around 2.5% every year — an estimate it deems conservative.  

Since the U.S. passed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which enforced higher Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, vehicle fuel efficiency has improved drastically. The trend also appears to be catching on in other parts of the world, with the European Union, Japan, and Canada having passed similar mandates.

Though Citi …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Venezuela Could Be Driving Up Gasoline Prices in the U.S.

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By Taylor Muckerman and Joel South, The Motley Fool

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Americans have been hearing a lot about the rapid increase in oil production within our borders. However, the lack of this connection to the price of gasoline at the pump has many of them questioning the dislocation. With supply increasing and domestic demand decreasing, shouldn’t the price be reduced to a point of equilibrium? It’s basic economics, right?

Unfortunately, we aren’t the only consumers of gasoline
If the United States were isolated in a vacuum, my answer would be a resounding yes. Unfortunately, that simply isn’t the case. Exports have been growing at an alarming rate for gasoline used in automobiles. Since 2000, Mexico has been the dominant purchaser, but as of November 2011 Venezuela has been opening its ports at an alarming rate. 

Recent Venezuelan activity
From November 2011 until January of this year, it has gone from importing next to zero gasoline from the U.S. to accounting for 20% of our total exports now. What has this meant for American drivers? Tune in below to find out.

Natural gas as a vehicle fuel could help alleviate some pain at the pump
The movement toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It’s poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Learn everything you need to know about Clean Energy Fuels in The Motley Fool’s premium research report on the company. Just click here now to claim your copy today.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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If You Want to Invest In Energy, Don't Follow Warren Buffett

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By Tyler Crowe, The Motley Fool

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I may be committing investing heresy by saying this, but following Warren Buffett in the energy space is not the way to go.

Yes, Warren Buffett is head and shoulders above the rest in the investing community and has a few decent energy investments the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio. If you are looking for possible investments in the energy space, though, you should look at another investor: T. Boone Pickens. He’s been in the energy industry for more than 60 years, and his hedge fund, BP Capital, is dedicated almost exclusively to energy investments. Let’s take a deeper look into BP Capital’s portfolio and see if there are any themes that can help us with our own investment decisions

Don’t be afraid of natural gas
While getting into the natural gas market only last year might have seemed like a losing proposition, today several companies are selling at pretty deep discounts to their underlying assets. Pickens and his team have a portfolio with more than 60% of of their exploration and production assets centered almost exclusively on natural gas. Both Southwestern Energy and Range Resources, two almost pure natural gas plays, make up more than 18% of BP Capital’s total holdings.

Anyone who has followed Pickens shouldn’t be surprised. Aside from his holdings with BP Capital, he also has a 20% personal stake in Clean Energy Fuels and has for several years been advocating for increased natural gas use through his Pickens Plan. It’s comforting to see that he and his partners at BP Capital are putting their money where their mouths are when it comes to natural gas.

Diversity is the spice of life
According to a recent energy report by Barclays, capital expenditures for exploration and production are set to reach a record $644 billion in 2013. With so much money pouring into the oil service industry, it would almost seem foolish to not be a part of it. Clearly, BP Capital sees a great opportunity in this sector, because it has bumped its holdings of National Oilwell Varco by 74% and picked up a considerable amount of shares in Weatherford International . Overall, BP Capital increased its total exposure to the oil services industry from 12% to 21%.

The big jump in oil services was part of a transition for BP Capital. Over the past quarter, it reduced its exposure to the E&P space from almost 75% to just under 60%. The bulk of that change was a transition toward services companies, but the group also picked up a pretty large share in Freeport McMoRan , the only company in the group’s holdings that isn’t considered a pure energy play.

No love for midstream
Probably the most glaring omission from BP Capital’s portfolio is midstream and pipeline companies. There are two possible reasons:

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Is Natural Gas Finally Changing the Fuel Industry?

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By Matthew DiLallo, The Motley Fool

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Business is so good at EQT‘s natural gas fueling station that the company is adding a second fueling island at the station. That’s really good news for the Pittsburgh-based exploration and production company — it’s a validation that natural gas is beginning to catch on as a transaction fuel in the region. The company, which is one of the lowest-cost producers of natural gas in the Marcellus, is just one of many companies investing to increase demand for natural gas.

The EQT station, which incidentally is just down the road from my home, is a steady reminder of how cheap natural gas is as a transportation fuel. Every time I pass the station it’s at least a dollar and a half cheaper than regular gas. Apparently, that difference was not lost on its growing customer count, who have deemed the difference being worth the cost of conversion.

The station has seen its monthly transaction count spike from just 200 last January to more than 1,000 by December. While the company had anticipated that customer growth would come, it never had anticipated that it would need to expand the station after just 18 months in operation.

EQT, of course, is not the first producer to make an investment in natural gas fueling infrastructure. The nation’s No. 2 natural gas producer, Chesapeake Energy , invested $160 million for a stake in Clean Energy Fuels . That deal provided Clean Energy with big cash infusion to help fuel the build-out of America’s Natural Gas Highway (pictured below).

Source: Clean Energy Fuels

While Chesapeake is looking to divest of its stake in Clean Energy, that has nothing to do with the future of the natural gas fuel business. Clean Energy is growing rapidly; its gallons delivered jumped 25% year over year to 194.9 million gallons. The company believes it’s well-positioned for an exciting year in 2013 as its sees the beginnings of a transition to natural gas by the heavy-duty trucking industry.

That means a bright future for natural gas engine partners Cummins and Westport Innovation . While there are currently 16 million natural gas vehicles in use around the world, just 126,000 of them are in North America. The industry believes this number will explode over the coming decade with more than 50 million natural gas vehicles in use across the world. That could yield explosive growth for the Cummins Westport joint venture given its technical leadership in the industry. 

While lack of refueling infrastructure had been holding back the growth of natural gas vehicles in the U.S., that burden is quickly being lifted thanks to companies like EQT and Clean Energy. This is a really exciting time in the energy industry — each passing day we take one step closer to a natural-gas-powered future. 

This movement toward a natural gas future is really gaining momentum. That means Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Fracking All the Way to the Central Bank

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By Doug Ehrman, The Motley Fool

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The boom in U.S. supplies of both oil and natural gas as a result of ongoing hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, operations may be the saving grace that rescues the Federal Reserve, the Obama administration, and the overall economy. While Chesapeake Energy and others came under significant criticism for their national land-grab scheme to buy up potentially lucrative land, the oil majors, including ExxonMobil , stand ready to capitalize on the development. In a completely different wave, oil servicers such as Halliburton are looking to capitalize on the boom, and companies such as Clean Energy Fuels have targeted liquefied natural gas, or LNG, as a way to clean up the country.

The intersection at which each of the developments, and the companies that support them, play a role in affecting the economy is where U.S. energy dependence affects inflation and economic stability. As an ever-increasing percentage of U.S. energy needs are met internally, several major global macroeconomic factors shift in America’s favor. As that occurs, the actions of the Fed and the administration are at least bailed out, and the economy is given a greater chance to heal.

How can fracking save the Fed?
Over the past several years, the Fed has grown its balance sheet by a staggering $3 trillion in defense of the U.S. economy and risk assets. The current course of quantitative easing has the Fed pumping up to $85 billion per month into the economy by way of the bond market. This policy has been clearly defined as the set path for as long as the unemployment rate remains above 6.5% and inflation remains in check. In a vacuum, you would expect this type of easy-money policy to create significant inflation, but thus far, that hasn’t been what the data suggests is happening.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the country’s dependence on foreign oil peaked in 2006 at 60% of a larger total number than what’s seen today. Current reports show that this figure has fallen to 32% of the smaller overall consumption number; dependence on foreign oil has decreased significantly. In terms of natural gas, where it is estimated that the U.S. spent $216 billion on the commodity in 2008, a recent BofA Merrill Lynch estimate suggests that this number has fallen all the way to $76 billion. This last statistic is significantly affected by the fact that the average price of natural gas in 2012 was roughly a third of the price in the U.S. as it was in both Europe and Asia.

When the U.S. is less dependent on foreign oil, several metrics change. The trade deficit and the current account deficit both fall. The latter, which is measured as a percentage of GDP, is expected to be down to 1.2% by 2020, as compared with the current 3.6%. This decline means both that the U.S. dollar is stronger and the cost of goods more stable. Each of these developments …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

General Motors Wants More Government Funding

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By Taylor Muckerman and Joel South, The Motley Fool

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In the following video, Motley Fool energy analysts Taylor Muckerman and Joel South discuss the current struggle to get a natural gas fueling station infrastructure built in the United States. General Motors wants the government to subsidize an expansion of natural gas fueling stations across the country to provide more incentive for consumers to switch to these vehicles that are able to make use of the cheapernatural gas fuels.

America’s Natural Gas Highway is almost here

Clean Energy Fuels  is one step ahead and has over 70 fueling stations complete, in addition to its private fueling stations for airport, refuse and transit operations. The entire planned network of over 150 stations will go a long way towards providing consumers with enough opportunities to make this clean fueling movement viable. 

The movement toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It’s poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Learn everything you need to know about Clean Energy Fuels in The Motley Fool‘s premium research report on the company. Just click here now to claim your copy today.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Will Investors Regret Hating This Natural Gas Stock?

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By Matt DiLallo, The Motley Fool

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A few years ago Chesapeake Energy was one of the market‘s hottest stocks. From 2003 until its peak in 2008, the company’s shares, fueled by a rise in natural gas, went up by more than 700%. Since its peak in July of 2008 shares are off by nearly 70%. With so many investors being burned over the past five years, no wonder the company is hated by investors.

That hate has turned some investors to actively bet against the company’s future success. At last count, 13.5% of its outstanding shares were sold short. While the short interest is down slightly from the end of last year, investors still hate this stock. Are these investors too focused on the past to miss a potentially exciting future?

Why it’s hated
I’ll be honest with you, there are some good reasons to hate this stock. Under the leadership of CEO Aubrey McClendon the company has undergone an ambitious growth phase which enabled it to become the nation’s No. 2 natural gas producer. The problem here is that its growth came at a great cost as the company took on massive amounts of debt. With the plunge in natural gas prices, the company is having trouble managing this heavy debt load while also investing to grow.

In order to fund its capital expenditures Chesapeake has turned to selling off assets to make ends meet. Last year the company sold its interest in Access Midstream Partners , along with a host of other assets, in an effort to raise billions in cash. Chesapeake is planning to sell $4 billion-$7 billion more in assets in the year ahead. It already sold a portion of its Mississippian Lime acreage to a Chinese national oil company and has put its stake in Clean Energy Fuels up for sale. The concern here is that the company’s precarious debt position is forcing it to sell these assets at fire-sale prices.

While the company labels these sales as non-core, the assets are top-notch. Access Midstream for example is a stable, low-risk, cash flow asset. Clean Energy just happens to be the company behind America’s Natural Gas Highway and is helping to spur the growth of natural gas demand. For investors shorting the stock, they see a debt-laden company that needs to sell excellent assets in hopes that those asset it keeps turn out to be worth more in the long run.

Why it should be loved
Now, with that out of the way, let’s get to why you’d want to buy this company. Chesapeake is an emerging liquids story and is now the 11th largest liquids producer in the country, and is aiming to grow that production by 27% this year to a total of 26% of its production. As you can see in the map below, Chesapeake has acreage positions in most of the top onshore plays, positioning it to continue to grow …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Chinese Firm Invests in U.S. Natural Gas Fueling Stations — Reuters

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By 24/7 Wall St.

Nat Gas Truck

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Add China’s ENN Group Co. to the rather short list of companies rolling out a network of natural gas fueling stations along U.S. highways. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) and Royal Dutch Shell PLC (NYSE: RDS-A) have a head start, but there is plenty of room for competition.

Clean Energy Fuels, which is controlled by oilman T. Boone Pickens, got some help in 2011 from a venture fund set up by Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) to begin building the natural gas refueling stops. ENN Group plans to build 50 refueling stations this year, according to an exclusive report at Reuters, at a cost of about $1 million per station. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that there are currently just 28 liquefied natural gas (LNG) refueling stations in the United States.

The refueling stations are aimed at supporting the conversion of the long-haul trucks that crisscross the country to LNG fuel. Currently about half the nation’s garbage trucks are fueled by natural gas, but the refueling stations are local. ENN and the others are looking to a far larger market.

ENN Group and its U.S. joint venture, Transfuels, also operate a company called Blu LNG, which plans to build liquefaction plants, according to Reuters. LNG is easier to transport and requires less storage than the compressed natural gas used to fuel most garbage trucks.

The benefit to natural gas producers like Chesapeake and Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) will come in the form of higher prices for their gas production. In addition to the 50 stations planned by ENN, Clean Energy plans to open 50 to 60 stations this year, and Shell plans a total of about 100 over time.

Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Oil & Gas Tagged: CHK, CLNE, RDS-A, XOM

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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4 Stocks for Kelsey Grammer

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By Chris Hill, The Motley Fool

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The following video is from Wednesday’s MarketFoolery podcast, in which host Chris Hill and analysts Matt Argersinger and Jason Moser discuss the top business and investing stories of the day.

Kelsey Grammer, the star of the hit TV show “Frasier,” reportedly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars investing in windmills. In an effort to help Grammer invest better, our analysts share why they believe alternative energy plays such as Exelon and Clean Energy Fuels are among stocks he should look into.

The movement toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It’s poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Read all about Clean Energy Fuels in our brand-new report. Just click here to get started.

The relevant video segment can be found between 14:17 and 16:48.

For the full video of today’s MarketFoolery, click here.

The article 4 Stocks for Kelsey Grammer originally appeared on Fool.com.


Chris Hill owns shares of Walt Disney. Jason Moser owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway and Walt Disney. Fool contributor Matthew Argersinger owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway and has the following options: long Jan. 2014 $80 calls on Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Clean Energy Fuels, Exelon, and Walt Disney. It owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway and Walt Disney. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Don't Fret Chesapeake's Sale of Clean Energy Stock

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By Taylor Muckerman and Joel South, The Motley Fool

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During its first few years, funding was of the utmost importance for Clean Energy Fuels . If the proposed stock sale by Chesapeake Energy had happened back then, it might have spelled doom for the nascent business. Now, however, some of the biggest companies in the world are buying into Clean Energy‘s vision for a cleaner driving America.

Just recently, FedEx CEO Frederick Smith professed that he sees a major shift for fleet vehicles toward liquified or compressed natural gas over the next 10 years. This support is huge given FedEx’s fleet of around 90,000 vehicles. He was also outspoken about the need for the U.S. to approve exports of LNG, one of the few CEO proponents not employed by the energy sector. 

T. Boone Pickens’ brainchild is gathering momentum. Should you climb on board?
The movement toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It’s poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Read all about Clean Energy Fuels in our brand-new report. Just click here to get started.

More details can be found in the video below.

The article Don’t Fret Chesapeake’s Sale of Clean Energy Stock originally appeared on Fool.com.


Joel South has no position in any stocks mentioned. Taylor Muckerman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Clean Energy Fuels, FedEx, and United Parcel Service. The Motley Fool has the following options: Long Jan 2014 $20 Calls on Chesapeake Energy, Long Jan 2014 $30 Calls on Chesapeake Energy, and Short Jan 2014 $15 Puts on Chesapeake Energy. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days.
We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Why Should Investors Be Confident in Clean Energy Fuels?

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By Brian Pacampara, Pacampara, The Motley Fool

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Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool’s free investing community, alternative-fuel provider Clean Energy Fuels has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at Clean Energy and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Clean Energy facts

Headquarters (Founded)

Seal Beach, Calif. (2001)

Market Cap

$1.1 billion

Industry

Oil and gas refining and marketing

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$334.0 million

Management

Co-Founder/CEO Andrew Littlefair
CFO Richard Wheeler

Return on Equity (Average, Past 3 Years)

(9.7%)

Cash/Debt

$146.7 million / $331.0 million

Competitors

Atlas Copco AB
Chesapeake Energy
Mansfield Oil

Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 97% of the 1,753 members who have rated Clean Energy believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.

Just last month, one of those Fools, LouPerna, succinctly summed up the Clean Energy bull case for our community:

With [natural gas] prices low and with major portions of the Natural Gas Hwy complete, industry has a compelling reason to switch to natural gas. This should lead to major revenue and profit increases over the next few years. The wide moat should discourage competition.

The movement toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It’s poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Read all about Clean Energy Fuels in our brand-new report. Just click here to get started.

Want to see how well (or not so well) the stocks in this series are performing? Follow the TrackPoisedTo CAPS account.

The article Why Should Investors Be Confident in Clean Energy Fuels? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Brian Pacampara has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Clean Energy Fuels and has options on Chesapeake Energy. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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U.S. LNG Supply for Natural Gas Vehicles Set to Double

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By Dan Dzombak, The Motley Fool

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Shell recently announced it would build two new liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel plants to supply all types of heavy-duty natural gas vehicles. Shell’s general manager for the America’s, James Burns, estimated these will double the liquefied-gas manufacturing capacity in the U.S. and Canada.

LNG is not to be confused with compressed natural gas, or CNG, which is used in cars and light-duty trucks. LNG is used in large-scale trucks, boats, and industrial uses. It is better for large vehicles to use LNG as it is much denser than CNG, requiring less storage space on board. With CNG or LNG, the big draw is cheaper refueling costs. A gallon of CNG ranges in price from $0.80 to $1.70.

Challenges
As my colleague Arjun Sreekumar wrote recently, there are two challenges holding back natural gas vehicles:

1. High up-front costs.

2. Limited refueling capacity.

For truckers and other heavy users of fuel, the cheaper refueling costs easily make up for the high up-front costs in around a year. It’s really the limited refueling capacity that is holding truckers back from making the switch.

The limited refueling capacity is being worked on by the likes of Clean Energy Fuels and TravelCenters of America to make LNG a viable option for truckers in the future. Clean Energy Fuels, with financial backing from Chesapeake Energy , is developing a network of 150 LNG stations at Flying J truck stops across the county. For its part, TravelCenters of America signed a memorandum of understanding with Shell in June 2012 to build natural gas refueling lanes at around 100 TravelCenters of America truck stops around the country.

When Shell announced on Monday its new liquefaction plants, it also announced that these would be the basis for two new natural gas refueling networks. The first would be in the Gulf Coast Corridor (Texas and Louisiana) with the liquefaction unit at its facility in Geismar, Louisiana with distribution provided by a subsidiary of Martin Midstream Partners .

The second network would be in the Great Lakes Corridor with the liquefaction unit at its facility in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. This facility will provide LNG to all five Great Lakes as well all the bordering U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

Once these networks are complete we should see more and more truckers begin using LNG for fuel, hopefully starting a virtuous cycle of refueling stations deciding on their own to add LNG and CNG refueling options.

Foolish bottom line

There are many different ways to play the energy sector, and The Motley Fool’s analysts have uncovered an under-the-radar company that’s dominating its industry. This company is a leading provider of equipment and components used in drilling and production operations, and poised to profit in a big way from it. To get the name and detailed analysis of this company that will prosper for years to come, check out the special free report: “The Only Energy Stock You’ll …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Westport Innovations Goes Global

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By Tyler Crowe and Joel South, The Motley Fool

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In the following video, Motley Fool energy contributor Tyler Crowe talks with energy analyst Joel South about Westport Innovations  and the co-marketing agreement it has just signed with Chinese company Enn Group. The company is similar to Clean Energy Fuels in that it is working in China to pioneer the natural gas fueling infrastructure, something that pairs well with Westport’s natural gas engines. Tyler tells investors why, due to China‘s weak domestic oil sources and massive natural gas reserves, there may be even stronger motivation in that country to shift transportation to natural gas than there is in the U.S.

As the most advanced designer of engines powered by natural gas, Westport Innovations is a small company with a big goal: to lead the world in transitioning away from traditional oil-based fossil fuels in favor of abundant, cheap, and clean natural gas. The company has a price tag large enough to match its ambition and will need to grow revenue quickly in order to justify sky-high expectations. To help you determine whether Westport Innovations is right for your portfolio, The Motley Fool has just released a brand-new premium report breaking down the company’s opportunities, competitive advantages, and risks. To get started, simply click here now for instant access.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Tyler Crowe and Joel South“, contentId: “cms.21903”, contentTickers: “NYSE:F, NYSE:CAT, NYSE:CMI, NASDAQ:CLNE, NASDAQ:WPRT”, contentTitle: “Westport Innovations Goes Global“, hasVideo: “True”, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

2 Stocks to Watch Right Now

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By Chris Hill, The Motley Fool

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The following video is from Monday’s Investor Beat, in which host Chris Hill and analysts Matt Argersinger and Jason Moser dissect the hardest-hitting investing stories of the day.

In this installment of Investor Beat, our analysts explain why they’re watching Clean Energy Fuels and AeroVironment .

The movement toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It’s poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Read all about Clean Energy Fuels in our brand-new report. Just click here to get started.

The relevant video segment can be found between 0:16 and 2:05.

The article 2 Stocks to Watch Right Now originally appeared on Fool.com.


Chris Hill, Jason Moser, and Fool contributor Matthew Argersinger have no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends AeroVironment and Clean Energy Fuels and owns shares of AeroVironment. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Did Warren Buffett Just Change the Game for Natural Gas Stocks?

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By Chris Hill, The Motley Fool

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The following video is from Monday’s MarketFoolery podcast, in which host Chris Hill, as well as analysts Matt Argersinger and Jason Moser, discuss the top business and investing stories of the day.

In a CNBC interview, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett mentioned the potential of natural gas to fuel railroads such as his Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Do Buffett’s comments suggest a big upside for natural gas? What are the implications for energy companies such as Cummins , Westport Innovations , and Clean Energy Fuels ? In this installment of MarketFoolery, our analysts discuss the future of natural gas stocks.

The movement toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It’s poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Read all about Clean Energy Fuels in our brand-new report. Just click here to get started.

The relevant video segment can be found between 7:56 and 10:17.

For the full video of today’s MarketFoolery, click here.

The article Did Warren Buffett Just Change the Game for Natural Gas Stocks? originally appeared on Fool.com.


Chris Hill has no position in any stocks mentioned. Jason Moser owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway. Fool contributor Matthew Argersinger owns shares of, and has long January 2014 $80 calls on, Berkshire Hathaway and also has long January 2015 $25 calls on Westport Innovations. The Motley Fool recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Clean Energy Fuels, Cummins, and Westport Innovations and wns shares of Berkshire Hathaway, Cummins, and Westport Innovations. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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3 Earnings Reports That Caught My Attention Last Week

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By Sean Williams, The Motley Fool

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As first-quarter earnings begin to wind down, I can’t help but point out that the majority of earnings reports we’ve covered over the past year have been better than expected. With so many companies reporting during the weeks that comprise earnings season, it’s easy for some earnings reports to fall through the cracks.

Each week for the past year, I’ve taken a look at three companies that could be worth further research after either beating or missing their profit expectations. Today, we’ll take a gander at three more companies that reported earnings last week. They may have slid under your radar, but they deserve a look.

Company

Consensus EPS

Reported EPS

Surprise

Akorn

$0.12

$0.13

8%

Clean Energy Fuels

($0.22)

($0.23)

(5%)

J.C. Penney

($0.18)

($1.95)

(983%)

Source: Yahoo! Finance.

Akorn
In January I took a closer look at the ups and downs of the generic drug sector and highlighted Akorn and Teva Pharmaceutical as my top two choices. My reasoning was primarily because they’re a hybrid type of pharmaceutical company — relying on their own branded drugs as well as generic drugs. Akorn certainly didn’t make me look bad in the first reported quarter since I made that claim.

In the fourth quarter, Akorn reported a 68% increase in revenue to $71.5 million as adjusted EPS jumped to $0.13 from $0.11 in the previous year. Growth came from acquisitions, such as assets from Kilitch Drugs in India, which expanded its generic injectable line, as well as from selling more organic compounds. What’s more, these results were on top of the downtime caused by Hurricane Sandy at its ophthalmic factory in New Jersey.

Akorn also noted in January that it anticipates bringing a combination of 39 branded and generic drugs to market between 2013 and 2015 with a total market value of approximately $3 billion, meaning we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg. Even with the margin pressures often associated with generics, Akorn only saw its gross margin dip by a measly 20 basis points to 58% for the year. As I’ve said before, Akorn is far from cheap, but this is the type of hybrid growth I’d consider paying a premium for.

Clean Energy Fuels
On paper, Clean Energy Fuels‘ story continues to make a lot of sense. As President Obama moves the U.S. toward energy independence, it would seem only logical that we’d turn our attention to the most abundant natural resource right at our feet: natural gas. However, Clean Energy Fuels‘ bottom-line results, as well as other factors, don’t bode well for its shareholders.

For the quarter, Clean Energy Fuels reported a 15% increase in sales as it delivered 29% more gallons of compressed, liquefied, and renewable natural gas. Still, the company managed to lose $0.23 on an adjusted basis compared to just $0.21 during the year-ago period.

The two primary problems with Clean Energy’s …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance