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Script:

Alternative energy, obviously a hot topic, but is it really just a bunch of hot air? Tonight we are talking about cashing in on the multi-billion dollar wind side of alternative energy. Jane Wells is on the Money tonight.

There are billions of dollars fluttering in the wind.

"Here in the US, we are looking at about a six-billion dollar market this year."

It's reflected in the stocks.

"It's an exciting timing when the pure players for sure are doing very well this year, up 55%."

Analyst Ann Duignon says those stocks may now be pricy and most trade only on foreign exchanges. So she says it may be better to play the suppliers here at home. Manitowoc provides cranes to build wind farms, and GE, a parent company provides all kinds of equipment like gear boxes.

"We are continuing to see that demand in the United States outpace the rest of the world."

GE got Wind a profiteer when it bought Enron's wind business five years ago, perhaps the only good thing to come out of Inront.

"In 2002, we acquired it for 250 million dollars, and this year we expect revenues from that business to exceed 4 billion."

"This is a wind energy assessment for..."

More American companies are jumping in. 3TIER helps wind farm developers find windy places and keep it secret.

"it's kind of like finding oil, when you find a good wind resource, you want to keep that sort of hush hush, because you might want to build more projects."

But there are challenges. People who don't like windmills nearby concerns that they kill millions of birds. And when the wind doesn't blow, you don't make money. But the bigger threat may be on the horizon, a federal tax credit considered essential expires next year.

"We've seen historically when the subsidies have expired that the industry basically collapsed."

There is also a shortage of equipment, driving up prices. Some of the orders placed here won't be filled till 2010 after the federal tax credit expires. It's a sign of faith that the industry will throb no matter what happens.

"We have got billions of dollars of investment in transmission for example, slated over the next few years to bring renewables to the market.

Growth opportunities for some, at least in the short term, and at least till the market winds change. On the Money, Jane Wells, CNBC, Los Angeles.

notes:

1. hush hush: adj. Secret, not spoken of (or spoken of only in hushed whispers between insiders).
eg:The spy program was very hush-hush, no one ever spoke of it.

2.on the horizon: imminent, forthcoming