Coal may be a dirty word in the clean energy movement. But David Fessler says the realities of global energy markets means it is going to be a key source of power in the coming decades. He says investors should include coal in their energy portfolio, and recommends three of the best ways to do it.

Commodities will rebound in the New Year, says Martin Hutchinson. Supply and demand fundamentals remain bullish for natural resources. Even more importantly, massive increases in the money supply will create inflation, against which hard assets are an important hedge. Martin gives five ways to play this trend in 2009.

President-elect Barack Obama has made no bones about wanting to jump-start the renewable energy markets – pledging $150 billion for the development of biofuels, solar and wind power, other alternative energy sources during his first term.

The jury is still out on whether China’s massive infrastructure-based stimulus package is the best way to rescue the economy. But Martin Hutchinson says it is great news for suppliers of raw materials. He picks 5 companies that will benefit from the injection of cash. Of those, Martin says Brazil’s iron ore producer Vale (ADR: RIO) is the best value buy.

Crude oil is grabbing the headlines but it’s coal and uranium that together provide nearly half the world’s power.