Byron King says energy is the single most important topic for the incoming U.S. president to deal with. Capital costs for energy projects are soaring, and the future of fossil fuels is uncertain given the ongoing climate change debate. Meanwhile, renewable energy is fast growing, but incapable of coming close to meeting demand in the foreseeable future. Byron says America has some tough decisions ahead, and if they get it wrong, nothing else will matter…

Russia and China’s nuclear energy ambitions are well known. But Taipan Trader editor Sara Nunnally says Eastern Europe is also turning to nuclear power.

Several of the EU’s newer member states are currently holding bids for new plants. And having a clean and reliable energy source will spur industrial growth in the region, creating attractive investment opportunities in the process.

More from Sara with the countries most likely to benefit from this new energy drive…

The nuclear story is almost getting old these days. But there are some things you need to know about. Resource expert Byron King is here to explain. Enjoy…

Nuclear energy is back on the agenda in Britain – and uranium stocks will feel the benefit. The BBC reports that up to 14 new power plants could be commissioned, while 23 existing plants are to be replaced.

In Taipan Daily, Irwin Greenstein examines another country looking to uranium as a source of clean energy, with potentially significant implications for the market:

China is already the world leader in producing solar cells – now it wants to make a grab other sectors of the alternative energy market.

“Prepare for the onslaught of relatively inexpensive Chinese turbines,” said Steve Sawyer, head of the Global Wind Energy Council, in Wired magazine.

In 2007, China became the world’s number one producer of photo-voltaic cells, holding 35% of the market. Sawyer reckons that China will make enough equipment to generate 10 gigawatts of power annually by 2010 — more than half the capacity that the whole world installed in 2007.

If there’s one area of the commodities markets that’s looking extremely cheap right now, I would say it’s uranium. Or rather uranium junior mining companies.