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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Pew Environment Group: Who's Winning the Clean Energy Race?

China and Germany have bumped the United States out of the first two spots for nations that capture the most private equity towards clean energy investments.

4/5/2011
The United States is losing its competitive edge in the global clean energy sector, according to a report by the Pew Environment Group. The United States now holds third place in private investment amounts in the clean energy industry. Until 2008, the United States was first in the world for clean energy investments. Now, China has taken the lead.

"The United States' position as a leading destination for clean energy investment is declining because its policy framework is weak and uncertain," said Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew's Clean Energy Program. "We are at risk of losing even more financing to countries like China, Germany, and India, which have adopted strong policies, such as renewable energy standards, carbon reduction targets, and/or incentives for investment and production. In today's global economic race, the United States can't afford to be to be a follower in this sector."

Last year, the United States received $34 billion in equity towards clean energy. While this marks a 51 percent increase from 2009, China attracted a record $54.4 billion last year, and the gap between investments in the two countries continues to expand. Germany attracted $41.2 billion, landing it in second place. (Last year, it was third.)

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