[quote=CostaMesa]FLU, I’m guessing that you’d rather not have someone report objectively on what they’re seeing the market do when it doesn’t jibe with your political beliefs and preferences.

Whatever… :rolling eyes:

Fact is, cleantech sector is very strong right now and it doesn’t look like that’s changing in the next year or so. Somebody looking for a job in hardware manufacturing will likely not find one in traditional places and about the only hiring going on is in solar. That’s just how it is.[/quote]

rolls-eyes. 🙂

I don’t disagree with what you are say with where jobs are going.. I just put out there, how are these clean-tech technologies are going to make money when fuel costs are so low, after all the “hype” surrounding cleantech has died down. Most of these clean-tech companies will go under, just like every other technology company. You have a dozen or so in doing the same thing, most will go under..VC’s know this, and they hope they are picking the one that has a return a decent exit strategy.Investors are currently fascinated with alternative-energy right now, and pouring a lot of VC money there, no doubt.

But it’s still remains to be proven how/what can make money off of this. Is demand going to be there enough to offset all the R&D cost. Remains to be seen. Cheap fuel prices isn’t making alternative energy compelling for folks that are strapped in this economy.

All those folks who bought a Prius and paid a premium…with current fuel prices, it’s gonna take even longer to recoup the difference. And look at the sales numbers for hybrids. You don’t have Prius or any hybrid for that matter on backorder anymore. True, auto demand is sagging in general due to the economy, but that’s the other point. People don’t have the luxury to spend money on stuff that saves on energy if it costs more money for them to obtain it.

If the government wants to subdize my solar panels completely. Great. I’d buy…Oh wait, but government is already in the red and banks are bigger problem.

I’d say, go for work in the alternative energy sector. Milk the next 2-3 years for what it’s worth. Some of us did this during the dot com boom, and some of did that for the other industries. We’ll see what it looks like in 2-3 years when the economy is in the real crapper and no one is spending on anything.