Venture Capital powering renewable energy investment, totaling $1.6 billion in 2006

President George W. Bush’s 2007 State of the Union Calls for More Investment in Biofuels and Renewable Energy

ANN ARBOR, MI, January 24, 2007 – President George W. Bush’s call to increase the supply of alternative fuels was sounded at a time of growth in venture investment in renewable energy, according to a Cleantech Venture Network® analysis released today. The North American venture capital community invested $740 million in biofuel companies in 2006, representing a nearly 7X increase over 2005 investment of $110 million. Additionally, $866 million was invested in solar, wind, geothermal and hydro marine companies in 2006, representing a 3.4X increase over 2005 activity. “Venture capital has taken the lead in renewable energy, but corporations, private equity and other investor groups are also investing in this area worldwide,” said Nicholas Parker, chairman and co-founder of the Cleantech Group™, parent company of Cleantech Venture Network®.

In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Bush called for the United States to reduce its gasoline usage by 20 percent in the next 10 years by providing 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels, a five-fold increase on previous targets.

• 2006 vs. 2005 North American venture capital investment, in key renewable energy segments:
• • Biofuels: Venture capital investment in biofuels (which includes ethanol, biodiesel, among others)
• totaled $740 million in 2006, vs. $110.5 million in 2005
• • Solar: $378 million in 2006 vs. $242 million in 2005
• • Wind: $380 million in 2006 vs. $1.5 million in 2005
• * According to the Cleantech Venture Network®

Cleantech, which includes biofuels and other renewable energy segments, has seen a tremendous growth over the last three years. According to the Cleantech Venture Network®, North American venture capital investment in cleantech totaled a record $2.9 billion for 2006, representing a 78% increase over 2005 cleantech investment of $1.6 billion and a 140% increase over 2004 investment of $1.2 billion. The Cleantech Group™ expects 2007 to be momentous year for cleantech globally with innovation and growth in water-related technologies, energy storage, power electronics and IT for sustaining natural resources.

Cleantech Venture Network® researchers will present in-depth research data for North America and Europe venture investment in all cleantech segments, including renewable energy, at the Cleantech Forum™ on February 19-22 in San Francisco.

• About Cleantech Venture Network®, LLC
• The Cleantech Venture Network® LLC is a membership group that catalyzes investment, business
• opportunities and relationships driving the growth of cleantech globally. The Cleantech Venture
• Network® popularized the term cleantech in 2002 and defined the category, providing investors,
• executives, government agencies and media accurate and consistent data dating from 1999. The network has over 7,000 cleantech investors and 7,700 companies worldwide that take advantage of the global Cleantech Forums™, comprehensive market research services and reports, online proprietary deal flow, and an investor directory. In addition, CVN provides information services, including the twice-a-month market intelligence newsletter Cleantech Capital Alert™ and the quarterly Cleantech Investment Monitor™ report that tracks and analyzes all cleantech investments, M&As and IPOs in North America and Europe.