QUICK NEWS, 1-26: WIND AND THE SOTU; SUN AND THE SOTU; SMART GRID BUY-IN IS UP; ENERGY SHIFTS EAST

WIND AND THE SOTU
Statement on the President's State of the Union Address
January 25, 2011 (American Wind Energy Association)

[Denise Bode, CEO, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):] “We are pleased to see the possibility of the first predictable long-term federal policy toward renewable energy…[W]e'll need to make sure the policy really deploys the renewable energy…Wind energy can deliver right now…more affordably than any other energy source, if we have a level playing field…"

[Denise Bode, CEO, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):] "On ending billions in oil industry tax subsidies and investing in ‘tomorrow's energy’…fossil fuels receive five times more in federal incentives than renewable energy…The predictability of the permanent incentives for conventional energy sources is as important as the amounts. Renewable energy currently suffers from the inability to predict whether incentives will be extended every year or two…It's time to reorient…[P]redictable policies [will] allow…renewable energy [to thrive]…"

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[Denise Bode, CEO, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):] "On producing 80% of U.S. electricity from "clean energy sources" by 2035…It is important from a jobs perspective to focus on deploying clean energy sources…Wind energy is ready to go now…By 2030 wind can be up to 20% of the electric supply…And it insources jobs and investment into America…"

[Denise Bode, CEO, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):] "On putting 1 million advanced technology vehicles on the road by 2015…We are looking forward to driving our cars on wind. With plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles headed for showrooms, that has finally become a reality…Wind energy has improved its efficiency 40% in five years…We look forward to working with the new majority in the House and leaders in the Senate to diversity America's energy portfolio and foster renewed economic growth."


SUN AND THE SOTU
Solar Industry Playing Critical Role in Creating Jobs, Driving Innovation and Maintaining US Competitiveness
January 25, 2011 (Solar Energy Industries Association)

[Rhone Resch, President/CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA):] "…The U.S. solar industry is playing a critical role in meeting [President Obama's commitment to creating jobs and keeping America competitive in the global marketplace]…"

[Rhone Resch, President/CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA):] "…[N]early 100,000 Americans in all 50 states…[work] at solar manufacturing facilities; on the roofs of homes and business installing the latest solar technology; at offices offering support in finance, legal and marketing departments. More are finding work in solar every single day…"

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[Rhone Resch, President/CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA):] "…LUMA Resources [of Rochester Hills, Michigan] utilized funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to transform their roofing company into a manufacturing facility of state-of-the-art solar shingles, creating new manufacturing jobs for Michigan workers. They are one example of thousands of companies that are finding new opportunity in the solar industry…"

[Rhone Resch, President/CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA):] "…With the right policy support, the U.S. solar industry is scaling up and allowing America to innovate and compete in the global marketplace. Congress should take notice of success stories like LUMA Resources when considering how to create new jobs and keep America competitive…"


SMART GRID BUY-IN IS UP
Smart Grid VC, M&A Activity Reach Highest Levels Ever In 2010
20 January 2011 (Renew Grid)

"Smart grid venture-capital (VC) funding and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity reached new heights in 2010, according [to Smart Grid Investment and M&A 2010] released by Mercom Capital Group LLC.

"VC funding in the smart grid sector was at its highest, with $769 million in 51 deals, representing an 88% increase over 2009. Top smart grid VC transactions included the $165 million raise by Landis+Gyr, the $106 million raise by Trilliant and the $52 million raise by OpenPeak. M&A activity was also robust for the smart grid sector, with 40 transactions, including the acquisition of Ventyx by ABB for $1 billion."

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[Raj Prabhu, managing partner, Mercom Capital Group:] "It was a banner year for smart grid in terms of VC funding and M&A activity, with VC funding almost doubling compared to 2009…Eighty-seven different investors participated in VC rounds in 2010.”

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"The solar and wind sectors also saw VC and M&A growth in 2010. Activity increased in large-scale solar project funding, debt and other funding types, pointing to an ease in the availability of credit after a challenging 2009. Solar M&A transactions in 2010 totaled $2 billion in 44 deals.

"The wind sector saw a 40% increase in VC and PE activity in 2010, with $277 million invested, compared to $198 million in 2009. Large offshore wind projects boosted project funding activity to over $9 billion in 2010. M&A transactions in the wind sector came to $1.3 billion in 23 deals, with the $860 million acquisition of John Deere Renewables by Exelon constituting the bulk of it."


ENERGY SHIFTS EAST
PFC Energy 50 Ranking of World's Top Energy Companies: Long Term Trends Reassert Themselves as Combined Value Gains 35%
January 26, 2011 (PFC Energy)

"The combined value of the 50 largest publicly traded energy companies increased 35% in 2009 to $3.9 trillion, according to energy consultants PFC Energy. That value remains 26% below its $5.2 trillion high at the end of 2007. The 35% gain compares with increases of 71% in oil prices and 20% in the S&P 500 over the same period…

"One year ago, five of the top six positions on the PFC Energy 50 were occupied by ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, BP and TOTAL. ExxonMobil had also reclaimed its long-standing leadership of the PFC Energy 50 list from PetroChina."

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"This year, PetroChina tops the list again, with a market capitalization of $353.1 billion, 9% larger than ExxonMobil’s $323.7 billion and Brazilian company Petrobras at #4 with a value of $199.2 billion that was larger than either Royal Dutch Shell or BP.

"In the past twelve months, the combined value of the list’s nine traded national oil companies (NOCs) rose by 66%, while the six SuperMajors, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Chevron, TOTAL and ConocoPhillips increased their combined value by less than 1% and OECD-based integrated companies gained only 6% in value."

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"2009 was a turnaround year for countries as well as companies. Russian companies, last year’s worst performers, posted a combined 88% value gain and the value of the Chinese companies grew 52%.

"Also visible this year are early signs of industry restructuring and consolidation. After spinning off its integrated oil sands operations as Cenovus, a smaller Encana fell from #22 to #44, the list’s largest drop. The Petro-Canada merger helped Suncor increase its market capitalization by 91% to climb from #37 to #22. ExxonMobil’s acquisition of XTO was not completed at year end, but the combined value of the two companies fell short of displacing PetroChina from the list’s #1 position…"