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PaperclipPerfector  6mo ago (text post)   2471 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for December 15, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

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What are some unconventional growth industries, motteizeans? I’ve picked the funeral industry due to population aging, any others?

Despite the current new administration, energy transition is a good bet. Decarbonization, electrification, GenAI. Energy companies will continue with low carbon and distributed generation buildout for the next 30 years. Nuclear maybe get little bit of investment, but I expect it will not be material to overall new generation. Gas turbines will be the backbone but expect more renewables regardless of fed policy.

Tempering this, most of the money in renewables is in shady grants, kickback schemes, and running scams. It's like investing in the Chinese stock market as a foreigner: all the value is harvested by 5 layers of insiders, and the iShares China ETF you can buy has only gained 20% since 2012.
(I seriously didn't realize it was that bad before looking it up for this post)

The profitable way to "invest in renewables" is by getting your non-profit a $50 million "inflation reduction act" grant to identify minoritized stakeholders and leverage indigenous community engagement for the equitable siting of utility solar (run an extortion and money laundering racket with ARM lawyers and a casino company, funneling kickbacks to certain political parties)

And you've got to be in the inner circle to keep the money flowing. Owning a residential solar installer has been a gold mine for years, but suddenly next year you're paying 50-100% tariffs so that some other guy's overpriced US solar panel factory can profit by getting a special tariff waiver on imported components

I didn’t realize this was an investment question. You are correct that there are not many good public companies out there for this industry. You’ve got scams on the low end and private capital at the high end.

I thought this was for career advice.

I mean, I am up for taking my HVAC contractor exam. If you know of a way to make money with that in the 'energy transition' I'm at least willing to hear it.

Heat pump installations?

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