MORE SMART MONEY GOING TO NEW ENERGY

Like they say, "Follow the money."

Private Funding to Alternative Energy Industry Surges in First Quarter
April 2, 2007 (AP via Yahoo Finance)

WHO
Various private investment sources, including France's Silicium de Provence, Seattle-based Imperium Renewables, and Santa Clara, Calif., solar cell developer Solyndra

WHAT
Venture capital investment in the alternative energy industry surged in the first quarter of 2007 to 58% higher than first quarter, 2006, and 60% higher than last quarter.

WHEN
January to March, 2007.

WHERE
Worldwide.

WHY
The usual suspects: global warming, the high cost of crude oil, nation-states’ drives to become energy independent, the peaking of oil supply and economic opportunities…

QUOTES
"We are seeing larger deals as investors focus on rolling out the most economic technologies," said Michael Liebreich, [London-based New Energy Finance Ltd.] chief executive…
“About $899 million was raised in the public markets, compared to $570 million raised in initial public offerings in the first quarter last year.”