Beacon Power specializes in frequency regulation.  For those not familiar with how power works this may be a foreign term.  Frequency regulation is the what electrical grids do to ensure that the proper amount of power is distributed to meet the demand of the consumer.  There are peak times of generation and down time.  Current power grid models initiates increased activity from its generators to increase output to meet the demand when it is high.  When this is done the generators, which currently operate on fossil fuels, work much harder to balance electrical output.  For you number junkies out there 60hertz is the desired output.  As you can imagine this causes an increase in the burning of fossil fuels and creates more CO2 emissions.  Beacon Power eliminates the need for fossil fuel driven power grids. 

 Beacon Power uses flywheel technology.  What is this you may ask?  A flywheel maintains and stores kinetic energy.  When the flywheel is charging it draws power from the grid which in turn spins the wheel to higher speeds.  This energy is then stored in the rotor.  When the energy is needed from the grid the wheel is slowed down, energy from the rotor is then used to initiate the generator, and then electricity is pumped back into the grid.  The true beauty of this system is that kinetic energy can be stored.  Thus energy that is created from the grid during non-peak times can be kept for later use.  Beacon Powers frequency regulation has been rated as the most efficient current way to regulate energy.  The only current operation that is remotely close in hydro-energy.  Though used in California and a couple other places this type of energy is not realistic across a broad scale.  The flywheel matrix system has a life span of 20 years, run on their own, and have zero to little maintenance. 

 Beacon is currently connected in New York and has two megawatts in place with a third coming on line soon.  The company was granted an conditional commitment from the Department of Energy for a 43 million dollar loan to construct an 20 megawatt plant in Stephenstown, New York.  They have also on August 26, 2009 applied for government grants to provide 50% of the cost for two additional 20 megawatt plants one possible in Glenville, New York and another in the PJM interconnection.  Recently the New York State Public Service Commission approved the plant plans for Beacon Power.  This recent news is a monumental step in the implementation of the smart grid matrix and the likely hood of governmental support. 

Those that follow politics know that the Obama administration has placed a large emphasis on green energy. Specifically the D.O.E. has identified the aging electrical grid system as a primary focus. For those that don't know as technology has advance we are operating grid wise as we did 50 years ago. Yes before you blast me there have been tweaks and changes but the basic premise has been unchanged. Providing clean energy with a higher rate of success and providing a cheaper alternative for the consumer should be a no brainer right? Wrong!! Those in power of traditional energy want to stay in power. There is no money to be made by the old guard by supporting and changing they way we do things. In fact one of the most compelling hangups of this company was that energy policy literally had to be amended just to allow them to compete in the open market. Those familiar with the government know this took more time than necessary.

The green energy movement is evolutionary in its core. Why do I use evolution as a comparison; simple evolution is something you cannot curtail regardless of effort. You cannot stop the changing of the guard. Every "revolution" known to man be it conflict or technological advance was ever truly stopped. Those in power of the current model will fight tooth and nail with their giant checkbooks to stay on top but change, evolution, will ultimately succeed. You cannot stop mans need for an more efficient way to lead his life. For those that remember think back to the last technology revolution, internet and communication. Wouldn't you have loved the foresight to see the big techs in 1991 where they are today. Who wouldn't have loved to follow cisco as an investor through the 1990s. Got in early on Dell, Microsoft, or Amazon. Seen where Nokia or Motorola were going with communication. What we have in our midst right now is a new revolution of technology and advancement. The ground floor of our future is right in front of us. We just have the confidence to believe in the next wave. Don't let small cap price fluctuations and manipulations curtail what you mind tells you. If you believe in it go after it. Put some skin in the game and see where you come out. If I may use a comparison I used to fish quite a bit as a child with my dad. As most kids I got bored quick and after time rarely actually put the line in the water. Without fail my dad would always seem to catch more fish than me. Like a kid I would get upset and wonder why; he just always said "if you don't cast son you will never get anything on your hook". Well hunting new tech is the same; don't read about it invest in it and your future. Disclaimer: Long Beacon Power since 2003.