Oil (USO,) Marathon Oil (MRO), Petrobras (PBR) are all Rising, so should Wind Energy (PWND)

United States Oil (NYSE: USO) and major oil stocks such as Marathon Oil (NYSE: MRO) and Petrobras (NYSE: PBR) continue to climb, raising the attractiveness of small cap alternative energy exchange traded funds (ETFs) such as PowerShares Global Wind Energy (NASDAQ: PWND).

USO closed yesterday at $39. 68, up16 cents.  Marathon Oil finished trading at 51.61, near its 52 week high of $54.83.  Petrobras finished the day higher at $33.98.  All oil related stocks have risen since Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) issued a note to investors predicting that a barrel of crude would be trading for $130.00 within the next 12 months.

When MRO, USO, PBR and other oil stocks rise, PWND attracts interest as wind power is seen as a viable alternative by many, including T Boone Pickens, who made his billions from oil; Warren Buffet, the legendary investor, and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), which has an interest in wind power turbine technology to supply computer farms.  In addition, President Obama has called for the United States to have 80 percent of its power generated by alternative energy sources by 2035.  High among these is wind power.

PWND has 80 percent of its total assets invested in companies that are in the wind power business.  Its investments are also concentrated in the United States.  While this protects it against the turmoil of international holdings, it leaves it vulnerable to political factors as wind power still receives subsidies.

Between the rising cost of petroleum, countries such as Germany turning away from nuclear plants, and the constant search for cleaner power. PWND offers an alternative to those looking for small cap energy sector investments other than major oil stocks such as PBR, USO and MRO.