Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights: Pike Electric, CH Energy Group, Consolidated Edison and DTE Energy

CHICAGO, April 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Alternative Energy Industry, including Pike Electric Corporation (NYSE: PIKE), CH Energy Group Inc. (NYSE: CHG), Consolidated Edison Inc. (NYSE: ED) and DTE Energy Company (NYSE: DTE).

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A synopsis of today's Industry Outlook is presented below. The full article can be read at  

http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/72420/Alternative+Energy+Stock+Outlook+-+March+2012

Favorable rate cases and stable sales growth in their respective service areas make companies likePike Electric Corporation (NYSE: PIKE), CH Energy Group Inc. (NYSE: CHG), Consolidated Edison Inc. (NYSE: ED) and DTE Energy Company (NYSE: DTE) attractive.

A major growth area in the Alt-Energy space is Solar Energy. The U.S. has a lot of catching up to do, despite enormous potential, to get anywhere close to the global leaders. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the U.S. trade association of approximately 1,100 companies in the solar energy industry. It estimates that in fiscal 2011 the U.S. solar energy industry grew 109% year over year to reach 1,855 MW, which represents 7% of all PV globally, up from 887 MW and 5% of global installations in 2010.

According to SEIA, this unprecedented growth was spurred in part by declining installed solar photovoltaic (PV) system prices, which fell 20% in fiscal 2011 on the back of lower component costs, improved installation efficiency, expanded financing options, and a shift toward larger systems nationwide. In addition, the anticipated expiration of the U.S. government's Treasury Program, which ended on December 31, 2011, drove developers to commission projects before the end of the year.

According to EPIA, the cumulative global installed PV capacity stood at almost 67.4 GW at the end of 2011, compared to only 39.7 GW at the end of 2010. The agency reports that almost 21 GW of this growth occurred in Europe. In fiscal 2011 the two biggest markets, Italy and Germany, accounted for nearly 60% of global market growth. The number of markets reaching more than 1 GW of additional capacity during fiscal 2011 rose from 3 to 6. In 2010 the top 3 markets were Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic; in 2011 Italy led the ranks followed by Germany, China, the USA, France and Japan, each with over 1 GW of new capacity.

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