Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican boosts solar buy-in with purchase of SunPower’s 579MW project (CleanEnergyAuthority)
SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) is starting 2013 with a bang. The company solar its 579 megawatt Antelope Valley Solar Projects (AVSP) to MidAmerican Solar for more than $2 billion. It’s the most recent buy-in for renewables that Warren Buffett-controlled MidAmerican has made, and hopefully a good indicator that big solar deals are in the works for 2013. The co-located AVSP projects stretch across the borders between Kern and Los Angeles counties, and are together the largest permitted PV project in the world. They are slated for completion by the end of 2015, according to SunPower.
Oil boom, demand for railcars aid Berkshire unit (Omaha)
Warren Buffett and Carl Icahn are reaping the benefits of surging demand for railroad tank cars to haul shale oil from beyond the reach of existing pipelines. Buffett’s Union Tank Car Co. is working at full capacity and Icahn’s American Railcar Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARII) has a backlog through 2014. Trinity Industries, Inc. (NYSE:TRN), the biggest railcar producer, began converting wind tower factories last year to help meet demand for train cars that can transport the petroleum product.
Former Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A) executive David Sokol offered a strong tongue lashing to his former mentor Warren Buffett, after the Securities and Exchange Commission decided not to take action against him for allegations of insider trading. Sokol told The Wall Street Journal that “he will never understand why Mr. Buffett chose to hurt my family … but given that he is rapidly approaching his judgement [sic] day, I will leave his verdict to a higher power.”
Best cars awards: Warren Buffett’s BerkshireInsurance.com in joint venture with CarDekho (FinancialExpress)
Indian automotive website CarDekho announces the first edition of its awards. CarDekho Awards 2013 presented by investment guru Warren Buffett’s Indian arm BerkshireInsurance.com. Based on an online voting concept, readers and subscribers get to choose the winners and the awards are not based on sales numbers or anyone’s views – they are positioned as the voice of the Indian consumers – a direct feedback from buyers to automakers. Split into 10 parts, these categories are defined based on car segments – Hatchbacks, Sedans, SUVs, UVs and Luxury vehicles. Under each segment there are two kinds of awards – one for the most popular in the whole year and other is the Best of 2012.
BYD gains permission to sell e-buses to EU (4-Traders)
BYD Co Ltd <002594.SZ><1211.HK>, a Chinese carmaker backed by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, said on Monday it had gained official permission to sell its electric buses in all European Union member states. The “Whole Vehicle Type Approval” granted by EU – which came weeks after BYD announced its plan to build electric buses in Bulgaria with a local partner – marked its latest effort to tap green vehicle potentials overseas.
Can you name Warren Buffett’s next big purchase? (Omaha)
It’s a new year, and Warren Buffett is still hunting elephants. Do you have an idea which one he’ll bag first? If so, tell us the name of the company you believe Buffett will buy, along with the reasons for your choice and your contact information. We’ll define an “elephant” as an acquisition costing $5 billion or more, not counting buybacks of Berkshire stock or “bolt-on” acquisitions by existing Berkshire companies.
