This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

Michael Cintolo, editor of The Cabot Market Letter and The Cabot Top Ten Report, looks to the alternative energy sector for his favorite investment idea for 2010.

The growth stock expert explains, "I consider American Superconductor (AMSC) to be the #1 wind power story in the market today." Here's his review.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

"Our top pick for 2010 is engineering and construction (E&C) firm AECOM Technology (ACM)," says Geoffrey Seiler.

In his BullMarket.com the advisor explains, "AECOM, unlike some better-known E&C names, offers a relatively low-risk business model. It performs no construction work at all and thus has none of the lump-sum, fixed-rate contracts that other companies might sign."

The clean technology sector was a lone glimmer of hope for the venture capital business through the financial crisis and ensuing recession. Quarterly updates gave positive news despite the destruction of capital elsewhere in the global financial markets. Now that the results are in for 2009, however, the outcome isn't as positive as many expected.

According to data from market research firm Cleantech Group and accounting and consulting firm Deloitte, venture capital funding fell 33% last year, but still held up better than the market as a whole.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

Vita Nelson is well-known as a leading expert on dividend reinvestment plans. With the caveat that she always recommends portfolio diversification, the editor of The MoneyPaper looks to utility stock FPL (FPL) as a top selection for 2010.

Nelson explains, "We make a point of recommending that people don't pin their hopes on just one stock (which might underachieve in the short run).

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

Jinpan International Limited (JST), a manufacturer of transformers, is the top pick for 2010 from Tracey Ryniec.

The value stock strategist for Zacks.com explains, "The company is positioned to benefit from the trillions of dollars of government stimulus around the world, as much of it is going into infrastructure.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

"The Energy Security Act of 2007 has received little investor attention; however, it contains provisions that are likely to lead to significant returns for investors," suggests Andy Obermueller.

In his Government-Driven Investing, he notes, "The law codifies the federal production targets for biofuel, which we believe presents a real opportunity for Vernenium (VRNM)."

If you still doubt that the next bubble will be green, check out the latest from California. Green and clean technology gigs surged 36% from 1995 to 2008, beating the state's overall 13% job-growth rate for the same period, according to Silicon Valley-based research firm Collaborative Economics. Since California's on the leading edge of this sector, many see it as a sign of things to come for the rest of the country.

As of January 2008, there were only 159,000 green jobs in California, less than 1% of the state's total, following year-over-year growth of 5%. But, during that same period, total jobs in the state dropped 1%, suggesting that jobs in sustainability just might be more sustainable. Though these may seem like small numbers, keep in mind that the green sector job market is twice the size of the state's biotech presence and two-thirds the size of the software industry.

In his The Long and Short Stock Advisor, growth stock specialist Sy Harding looks to Kaydon (NYSE: KDN), a maker of custom-engineered aerospace, defense, medical and wind-energy products.

He explains, "Kaydon's revenues (and stock price) held up well through most of last year before succumbing to the plunging economy.

"As with most companies tied to the economy, Kaydon's earnings declined in 2008 and so far in 2009, resulting in a decline in the stock price. However, the company is seeing improvement so far in the second half of the year.

How do you know the green finance sector has arrived? Well, it got its first Ponzi scheme! Allegedly.

The SEC filed charges against four people and two companies in a Denver federal court on Monday. Mantria Corp. and its principals, Troy Wragg and Amanada Knorr, stand accused of running raising $122 million from more than 300 investors in what could be a dozen fraudulent offers of securities. Mantria engaged Speed of Wealth LLC, run by Wayde and Donna McKelvy, to dump the cash out of their retirement plans and tap their home equity to "invest" in Mantria, which they said was offering returns ranging from 17% to "hundreds of percent" every year.

"We're finding positive opportunities in Asia," says Richard Schmidt. In his Stellar Stock Alert, he looks to a play on China's infrastructure: Rino International (RINO).

"China is very aware of the need for infrastructure to power economic growth. The better your energy production and transportation systems, the better your economy is going to do.

"As a result, China has made a massive investment into expanding and shoring up its infrastructure. We see this as a major investment opportunity.

Sunny skies are here for Ausra, the solar thermal company backed by Kleiner Perkins and Khosla Ventures. The company is looking for a buyer, and it's already talking to three, according to a report by Reuters. Everything is up for grabs, from a majority stake in the company to 100% of it, and the back-and-forth going on is at a "very aggressive level."

The businesses looking to pick up Ausra are said to be global power generation conglomerates but haven't been named yet. So, the clean energy company would be a way for one of them to diversify.

"Being socially responsible means different things to different people; however, in the mutual-fund world, it refers to funds that combine progressive 'social' mandates with investment criteria," explains fund expert Mark Salzinger.

In The No-Load Fund Investor, he suggests, "We have no problem with the concept of socially responsible funds for an investor who wants his investments to reflect his values, provided that the funds have also provided good risk-adjusted returns." Here, he looks at two favorites.

"Funds that call themselves socially responsible usually avoid stocks that don't meet progressive, or politically liberal, standards of environment impact, workplace environment, and diversity/tolerance and community involvement.

"I'm excited about Quanta Services (PWR), a contracting company that specializes in building utility transmission and distribution infrastructure," says Ian Wyatt.

In his Top Stock Insights, he explains, "The current focus in the U.S. of projects that improve energy conservation, utilize renewable resources, and improve air quality make Quanta an excellent long-term growth opportunity.

"Its customers are in the electric power, gas, telecommunications, and cable television industries. These are stimulus spending customers; i.e., big government organizations and utilities companies.

"The U.S. Energy Department is sponsoring a race to develop an obscure industrial process -- carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) -- and the winners of the race will receive $1.4 billion -- yes, billion, with a B," says Andy Obermueller.

In Government-Driven Investing, he says, "My pick to profit from among the 12 companies selected to compete in this scientific 'Olympiad' is Praxair (NYSE: PX)."

"This industrial-gas company owns hundreds of CCS patents, technology that could turn a coal-fired power plant -- about the dirtiest thing in the world, emissions-wise -- into one of the cleanest.

"Water, one of the most precious of resources, continues to be the most mispriced," says Neil George.

In his Profits Hidden in the News advisory, he explains, "Millions of Americans are drinking dangerous water from the tap." Here, he looks at two ways to profit as this situation gains attention.

"The US Environmental Protection Agency has recently updated its data on US municipal water and, as with previous surveys and reports - the news is not good. In fact, for wide swaths of the US population - including those in the nation's capital - its flat out scary.