Manufacturers Struggle as Solar Approaches Grid Parity: A Wall Street Transcript Interview with Aaron Chew, Vice President of Equity Research and Senior Alternative Energy/Solar Analyst at Maxim Group LLC

67 WALL STREET, New York - February 19, 2013 - The Wall Street Transcript has just published its Alternative Energy Report offering a timely review of the sector to serious investors and industry executives. This special feature contains expert industry commentary through in-depth interviews with public company CEOs and Equity Analysts. The full issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online.

Topics covered: Grid Parity Timelines for Alternative Energy - Asia Pacific Demand for Solar Energy - Alternative Energy Generation - Solar Energy Pricing - Government Subsidies and Regulation - The Rise of the Energy Efficiency Market - LED Adoption in Large-Scale Projects - Long-Term Opportunities in Emerging Markets - Solar Growth Drivers and Headwinds

Companies include: American Superconductor Corpor (AMSC), First Solar, Inc. (FSLR), Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd (STP), Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL), Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ), Apple Inc. (AAPL), LDK Solar Co.Ltd. (LDK), Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL), Koninklijke Philips Electronic (PHG), Siemens AG (SI), Cree Inc. (CREE), General Electric Co. (GE), Emerson Electric Co. (EMR), Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) and many more.

In the following excerpt from the Alternative Energy Report, an expert analyst discusses the outlook for the sector for investors:

TWST: Tell us abut the LED space.

Mr. Chew: The LED space it is an interesting one, too. LED has so many similarities to solar that a lot of parallels can be drawn, but there are some critical differences that make it totally different. The similarities are that these are both cutting edge industries that offer users and people in businesses a means to save on the energy front and therefore presents a tremendous unit growth opportunity. But it's one that is only going to be enabled by lower pricing, as we discussed with solar.

Now, there are two kinds of LEDs. One is an expensive commercial light that costs $200, $300. The other kind is the low-end light bulb like you would use in your home. Those light bulbs just cost $50, and most people are not going to spend $50 on a light bulb. As that price comes down to $20, $15, $10, suddenly - I mean, I have zero doubts in my mind that LEDs will be virtually 100% of the lighting market within a few years.

The real value in LEDs is if you do the math and really look at the LED lights over the 15-, 20-year life span that they're supposed to have, the real returns, the real savings and the real money made on LEDs is actually derived out of its long life and the subsequent drop in installation cost.

It is important to realize there is roughly a $100 billion of spend annually on the general lighting marketplace. Only a small amount of that is on residential lighting. While residents may not be interested in spending even $15 on a light bulb, the commercial market, the $90 billion of the market, does see value in longer-life light bulbs.

Places like parking garages, street lights, parks, retail space, commercial lighting need to expand the life of the light bulb...

For more of this interview and many others visit the Wall Street Transcript - a unique service for investors and industry researchers - providing fresh commentary and insight through verbatim interviews with CEOs, portfolio managers and research analysts. This special issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online.