Investing in Wind Energy

There's no denying alternative energy is the way of the future. Both candidates for the United State presidency have stated their desire to tackle climate change . Countries and states in Europe and America keep trying to one up eachother with more aggressive goals of reducing carbon emissions while companies big and small figure out ways to make more efficient products and explore new ways to tap mother nature's resources in a sustainable way. Even oil companies are trying to get into the alternative energy game.

If you're like me and live in a city without much room to put up a wind turbine and rent your apartment so putting solar panels on the roof is out, you may be wondering what you can do? Well I've decided to start investing my extra money that I'm saving (to buy that house with wind or solar) in wind energy.

Because the industry is new investing in Wind energy is a bit tricky. There are three basic strategies you can use that I'll go into more detail about below:

• Invest in companies that just makes wind turbines
• Invest in companies that make turbines and other things
• Invest in a mutual fund that has a high exposure to wind companies

Investing is pure wind companies is great because you know they're focusing all their energy on that. Unfortuantely, there aren't that many companies like this and they are mostly small young companies which makes them somewhat risky.

• Vestas (VWS) - Based in Denmark is the largest Wind Turbine maker
• Americas Wind Energy Corporation (AWNE) - focusing on medium sized (500 – 1,000 megawatt) wind turbines for the North American market
• Gamesa Corporacion Technologica (GAM) - Spanish company that build wind and solar farms
• Nordex AG (NDX) - German wind turbine maker
• Renewable Energy Holdings PLC (REH) - Operates wind farms in Germany
• Hansen Transmissions International (HSN) - Makes gearboxes for wind turbines

Big companies are great because they aren't going to go out of business tomorrow (GE has been around since 1878) but they're also focused on industries outside the wind market you may be unconfortable with (GE has many U.S. military contracts).

• General Electric (GE) - it's subsidiary GE Wind Energy is the largest wind turbine producer in the United States.
• Siemens (SI) - a leading producer of wind turbines in Europe

Mutual Funds and ETFs are a great way to invest in Wind Energy. You get to invest in a lot of companies and once and let someone else manage it for you. Here are some great funds to check out. As with all mutual funds, watch the expense ratios though:

• PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy (PBW)
• Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy (GAAEX)
• New Alternatives (NALFX)
• PowerShares Cleantech Portfolio (PZD)
• PowerShares WilderHill Progressive Porfolio (PUW)

If there are any other wind related investments I am missing please leave them in the comments and I'll update this hub.