FYI,

"Alternative Energy Stocks Gain"
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews&storyID=328
6415

: Shares of alternative energy companies posted some of the biggest
: gains on the Nasdaq Friday, after the largest blackout in North
: American history sparked interest in firms aiming to remake electric
: grids.

: The massive outage, and a vow by President Bush to modernize the
: system, boosted shares of nearly every sector related to power.

: "Investors are anticipating that people are going to hear a lot of
: information on the electricity grid and that keeps this sector
: active," said Chris Kwan, analyst with broker TD Newcrest
: International, based in Toronto.

: In particular, shares of companies that got a boost Friday look at
: ways to make transmission networks more efficient or cut dependence
: on centralized grids by inventing local generation. The latter
: strategy is known as "distributed generation."

: Proton Energy PRTN.O , Plug Power Inc. PLUG.O , FuelCell Energy Inc.
: FCEL.O , Active Power Inc. ACPW.O and American Superconductor Corp.
: AMSC.O rose anywhere from 11 percent to 34 percent.

: Shares of American Superconductor Corp. which makes superconductor
: cables, jumped $3.19, or 34 percent, to $12.43 in afternoon Nasdaq
: trade, making it the Nasdaq's No. 2 percentage gainer. Scientists
: hope such cables can pack more power on less wire, unclogging
: congested U.S. power grids.

: Plug Power, also among the Nasdaq's top percentage gainers, surged
: 19 percent, or 81 cents to $4.98. It looks at ways to create local
: generation.

: Like other tech-heavy companies, these firms have suffered from two
: years of weak spending on technology following the burst of the
: Internet bubble.

: Kwan said the stocks are relatively cheap. They have been stuck in a
: lull following their most recent rally in 2001, when California
: power crisis sparked interest in alternative power.

: While the current crisis will raise the profile of these companies,
: sales won't turn around immediately, Kwan said.

: And the length of the rally will depend on longer-term spending.

: "If (companies) expect additional money toward improving the grid or
: encouraging distributed generation then that's going to keep this
: rally going," Kwan said.

Maybe this blackout will shine a spot light on space solar power.

Mark Reiff