Leslie Alperstein & team Washington Analysis Corp.
Although they slip one rung to third place, the ten Washington Analysis Corp. researchers under the direction of Leslie Alperstein continue to win high praise from investors for being tuned in to the Capitol. “They know all the characters and players in Washington inside out,” marvels one buy-sider. In January the researchers published an assessment of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to eliminate the exemption of coal ash from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, thus imposing new restrictions on the handling and disposal of residue from coal-fired power plants, and identified potential winners and losers. “Additional federal regulation could eventually threaten some coal demand from existing power plants, particularly smaller, older and less-efficient facilities — a negative for both coal producers and the rail firms that haul it,” the analysts wrote. “On the flip side the possible closure of coal-fired power plants could eventually promote more natural-gas usage for power generation. Firms involved in toxic waste cleanup could also benefit from remediation work involving coal-ash impoundments.” The EPA will accept public comments on its proposal until November 19.