Andy Obermueller is the chief investment strategist of an intriguing new service that focuses on developing government legislation to find investment opportunities.

In his Government-Driven Investing the advisor looks at Praxair (NYSE: PX) as a play on clean coal technology, more-technically known as carbon capture and sequestration. Here, he explains the opportunity:

"U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced an $8.4 million project to ensure that the nation's innovators are up to speed on the latest carbon-capture and sequestration technology.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Rentech (ASE: RTK) is the favorite speculative idea from Keith Fitz-Gerald, editor of The Skeptical Investor.

The advisor and money manager explains, "Rentech, a $600 million company, offers a fair shot at decreasing our dependence on foreign oil in a time frame that makes it almost immediately relevant. This is significant because it represents the first widely applicable technology I've seen work at price points that make it practical.

"Rentech, however, has a patented technology that can convert coal to oil, gasoline, or even aviation fuel at a paltry $35 a barrel. Not only is this far cheaper, but with oil now settling in the $50 to $60 range, it's going to be a lot more profitable, too. It's also an area that is being largely ignored, which, of course, makes it appealing to me.

"Most people think coal is dirty, stinky, and causes cancer. And they're right! But, there's also enough of it here in the U.S. to supply our anticipated energy needs for the next 250 years. This makes it more appealing, usable, and even convertible than all other alternative energy sources combined when viewed in the context of our energy continuum.