Phoenix Motorcars' SUT on Display at Petersen Automotive Museum Friday March 2, 11:30 am ET Debut Party a Natural Success ONTARIO, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Mar 2, 2007 -- Ed Begley Jr. Actor/Environmental Activist rolled out the green carpet at the Petersen Automotive Museum at last night's debut party for Phoenix Motorcars. Over 400 environmentalists, investors and Hollywood stars gathered for the unveiling and induction of the only five-passenger, all-electric, freeway-speed sport utility truck (SUT) in America. "Phoenix is so appreciative to Ed Begley for his tireless efforts in helping to create awareness, not only of this vehicle, but of the larger environmental issues that all of us face," said Dan Elliott, CEO of Phoenix Motorcars. "We're equally as excited to be working with a team of brilliant partners, Altairnano Technologies, Boshart Engineering and UQM Technologies." Phoenix's customized red and black SUT will be on display at the Alternative Power exhibition along with a dozen other alternative fuel vehicles located on the second floor of the Petersen Automotive Museum. The 35,000 square foot showroom displays revolving exhibits in five main galleries featuring automobiles. "This electric vehicle is rising from the ashes of the failed electric car industry," said Ed Begley Jr. "This is a cool vehicle. It is fast, green and attractive." During the party, attendees had the opportunity to get behind the wheel to test-drive the Phoenix SUT and raved about their driving experience and its overall performance. Chris Paine, director of "Who Killed the Electric Car?" was one of the first to test-drive the Phoenix Motorcars SUT. "This electric vehicle is amazing. It drives like a real car, except that it has no noise and does not pollute the environment." "This electric vehicle is suitable for my lifestyle," said Daryl Hannah, Actress. "Most electric vehicles I have seen are compact and this SUT is spacious and has its own style." Phoenix's SUT is a battery-electric vehicle that eliminates noise and toxic vehicle emissions that contribute to air pollution. The zero-emission SUT can easily cruise at freeway-speeds while carrying five passengers and a full payload. The SUT exceeds all specifications for a Type III ZEV, having a driving range of over 100 miles, can be recharged in less than 10 minutes and has a battery pack with a life of 12 years or more. It is powered by UQM Technologies, Inc.'s (AMEX:UQM - News) propulsion system, utilizes Boshart Engineering's homologation process and is equipped with a non-toxic, revolutionary Altairnano NanoSafe(TM) (NasdaqCM:ALTI - News) all-battery pack.
Press Release Source: Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. AES Corporation Makes Strategic Investment in Altair Nanotechnologies Monday March 5, 9:19 am ET Energy Giant Invests Three Million Dollars in Altair Stock RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (Nasdaq: ALTI - News), a leading manufacturer of safe, high-performance battery pack systems used in electric and hybrid-electric automobiles and stationary power systems, announced today that global power leader AES Corporation (NYSE: AES - News) has made a $3 million strategic investment in Altair. AES privately purchased 895,523 treasury shares of Altair common stock at $3.35 per share, the NASDAQ closing price of Altair shares on the day prior to closing. Altair agreed to register the resale of such shares. The purchased shares represent approximately 1.5% of Altair's outstanding common shares. Cowen and Company acted as the financial advisor to Altair for the transaction. AES is one of the world's largest global power companies, with 2005 revenues of $11 billion. With operations in 26 countries on five continents, AES's generation and distribution facilities have the capacity to serve 100 million people worldwide. "Advanced battery technologies have the potential to transform both the electricity and transportation sectors," said Robert Hemphill, Executive Vice President of AES. "The batteries that Altairnano is beginning to ship, with their high power density and extended cycle life, offer great promise for powerful, fast charging electric vehicles and other applications." "AES is a leader in the global power sector with a long history of innovative project development. Altairnano and AES have a common focus on the alternative energy market and we are proud to have them as a major investor," said Altair President and Chief Executive Officer, Alan J. Gotcher, Ph.D.
I've been in ALTI since November. Added a bit in the January pull-back. Was in the red for a long time, but now I'm Black in a big way. I'll probably be looking to scale back a portion of my position this week. It sure is nice to have a bit of luck in these markets.
My guess is profit taking from those that purchased in the 2's. I sold 1/2 my position yesterday and plan on holding the balance through earnings (Thursday). If it gets down to the 3.30's I may just reload there.
West Coast ethanol play. PEIX - Pacific Ethanol. With California having about the highest gas taxes in the country, the difficulty in transporting ethanol and the state's penchant for subsidizing "clean energy", PEIX may be the best ethanol play out there. Recent news: Pacific Ethanol Announces Groundbreaking for 50 Million Gallon Ethanol Plant in Stockton, CA; Construction on Fourth Facility Expected to Begin in Thirty Days Tuesday March 13, 4:53 pm ET SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (Nasdaq: PEIX - News), the largest West Coast-based marketer and producer of ethanol, today announced that it will soon begin construction on a 50 million gallon per year ethanol facility at the Port of Stockton, California, dramatically increasing ethanol production capacity in the state. The Company has secured a 50-year lease on a 30-acre site at the port. The Company further stated that it expects to begin construction, which should take approximately 14 months, within the next thirty days. Located on the Stockton Deepwater Ship Channel, 75 nautical miles due east of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Port of Stockton, California, owns and operates a diversified and major transportation center that encompasses a 2,000-acre operating area. The Port is one mile from Interstate 5, and all interconnecting major highway systems. Rail service is provided by two transcontinental railroads, Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Locating at the Port will give added options and flexibility to the company for both incoming raw materials as well as out going products. Stockton is located in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley. The San Joaquin Valley is home to over one million dairy cows providing a ready market to the wet distiller grains produced by the plant consistent with the company's strategy of operating in destination markets. CEO Neil Koehler observed that, "The Stockton plant will be our third in the State of California. With demand at nearly one billion gallons last year, California is the largest single market for ethanol in the US. This plant's strategic access to water, rail and road transport should give us affordable access to most markets in California and beyond. The Stockton plant remains true to our destination model, with its location in the San Joaquin Valley of California and proximity to its population of over one million head of dairy cattle." Stockton, Port Director Richard Aschieris announced, "The Port of Stockton is very pleased to welcome Pacific Ethanol to the Port's growing family of tenants. In our efforts to be a leader in environmental stewardship in the San Joaquin Valley, we look for opportunities to provide facilities to businesses that will improve air quality in the region. This project represents a significant investment by Pacific Ethanol and further advances our goal to create local family-wage jobs." About Pacific Ethanol, Inc. Pacific Ethanol is the largest West Coast-based marketer and producer of ethanol. Pacific Ethanol has an ethanol plant in Madera, California, two additional plants under construction in Boardman, Oregon, and Burley, Idaho, a third plant soon to be under construction in the Imperial Valley near Calipatria, California, and owns a 42% interest in Front Range Energy, LLC which owns an ethanol plant in Windsor, Colorado. Central to its growth strategy is its destination business model, whereby each respective ethanol plant achieves lower process and transportation costs by servicing local markets for both fuel and feed. In February 2007, Pacific Ethanol obtained a $325 million credit facility to provide financing for its first five ethanol production facilities. In May 2006, Pacific Ethanol completed an equity funding of $138 million which provided the Company with sufficient cash to both accelerate its stated goal of completing five ethanol production facilities totaling 220 million gallons of capacity per year by the middle of 2008 and its plans to complete additional ethanol production facilities, increasing total capacity to 420 million gallons per year by the end of 2010. In addition, Pacific Ethanol is working to identify and develop other renewable fuel technologies, such as cellulose-based ethanol production and bio-diesel.