In This Issue:

Renewable Energy Focus -- Clean energy investment reached $260B in 2011, boosted by solar; Wind energy venture capital funding up 33% in 2011, offshore sector gaining ground; California Bear Creek Ranch powering agricultural water pumps with solar energy; PG&E tallies renewable energy gains in 2011; Experts: Subsidy pullback to hit wind, biomass harder than solar; Cleantech M&A deals dominate in 2011, as global investment tops $9B; Electronic atlas maps U.S. renewable energy resources; Gov. Brown's proposed budget includes $1B cap-and-trade spending; Notable Renewable Energy Projects and Deals -- Western Wind completes 120MW wind farm in California; and AQT gets $18.7M to expand California solar cell plant.

Excerpt from Renewable Energy Focus

Clean energy investment reached $260B in 2011, boosted by solar

Bloomberg - Jan 12

Renewable energy investment rose 5% to a record $260 billion in 2011 driven by a surge in solar developments and increased spending in the U.S., Bloomberg New Energy Finance said. New spending on solar energy jumped 36% to $136.6 billion in 2011, outpacing the $74.9 billion put into wind power. Spending in the U.S. rose by a third to $55.9 billion, surpassing the 1% gain in China to $47.4 billion. A jump in photovoltaic installations in the U.S. and Europe overcame a 50% decline on the price of modules. Falling prices made more developments possible and is bringing closer the date when wind and solar can rival fossil fuels without subsidies.